The relationship of plasma antioxidant levels to semen parameters: the Males, Antioxidants, and Infertility (MOXI) randomized clinical trial.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The understanding of the role of plasma antioxidant levels in male fertility in the USA is limited. In a secondary analysis of the Males, Antioxidants, and Infertility (MOXI) randomized clinical trial, we sought to determine whether serum levels of vitamin E (α-tocopherol), zinc, and selenium were correlated with semen parameters and couple fertility outcomes.

METHODS:

This study is a secondary analysis of the MOXI clinical trial. The primary endpoints in this secondary analysis include semen parameters, and DNA fragmentation and clinical outcomes including pregnancy and live birth. Analyses were completed using Wilcoxon's rank-sum test and linear regression models.

RESULTS:

At baseline, the analysis included plasma labs for vitamin E (n = 131), selenium (n = 124), and zinc (n = 128). All baseline plasma values were in the normal ranges. There was no association between selenium, zinc, or vitamin E levels and semen parameters or DNA fragmentation. Baseline antioxidant levels in the male partners did not predict pregnancy or live birth among all couples. Among those randomized to placebo, baseline male antioxidant levels did not differ between those couples with live birth and those that did not conceive or have a live birth.

CONCLUSIONS:

Among men attending fertility centers in the USA, who have sufficient plasma antioxidant levels of zinc, selenium, or vitamin E, no association was observed between vitamins and semen parameters or clinical outcomes in couples with male infertility. Higher levels of antioxidants among men with circulating antioxidants in the normal range do not appear to confer benefit on semen parameters or male fertility.

• Authors: Jennifer F Knudtson, Fangbai Sun, R Matthew Coward, Karl R Hansen, Kurt T Barnhart, James Smith, Richard S Legro, Michael P Diamond, Stephen A Krawetz, Heping Zhang, Rebecca Usadi, Valerie L Baker, Nanette Santoro, Anne Z Steiner
• Journal: Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics (J Assist Reprod Genet) Vol. 38 Issue 11 Pg. 3005-3013 (Nov 2021) ISSN: 1573-7330 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 34455507 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: © 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Vitamins

Topics

• Abortion, Spontaneous (epidemiology)
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Antioxidants (analysis)
• Female
• Fertilization in Vitro (methods)
• Humans
• Infertility, Male (blood, therapy)
• Live Birth (epidemiology)
• Male
• Oxidative Stress
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Rate
• Semen (metabolism)
• Semen Analysis
• United States
• Vitamins (blood)
• Young Adult