Effect of Micronutrients and L-Carnitine as Antioxidant on Sperm Parameters, Genome Integrity, and ICSI Outcomes: Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
The evaluation of sperm DNA integrity is recommended in the sixth edition of the 2021 World Health Organization guidelines. Oxidative stress has been identified as a crucial factor leading to genome decay, lipid peroxidation, and nucleoprotein oxidation. This double-blind, placebo-controlled clinica...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Antioxidants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/12/11/1937 |
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| author | Marwa Lahimer Oumaima Gherissi Nesrine Ben Salem Henda Ben Mustapha Véronique Bach Hafida Khorsi-Cauet Hedi Khairi Habib Ben Ali Moncef BenKhalifa Mounir Ajina |
| author_facet | Marwa Lahimer Oumaima Gherissi Nesrine Ben Salem Henda Ben Mustapha Véronique Bach Hafida Khorsi-Cauet Hedi Khairi Habib Ben Ali Moncef BenKhalifa Mounir Ajina |
| author_sort | Marwa Lahimer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The evaluation of sperm DNA integrity is recommended in the sixth edition of the 2021 World Health Organization guidelines. Oxidative stress has been identified as a crucial factor leading to genome decay, lipid peroxidation, and nucleoprotein oxidation. This double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial aimed to assess the effect of oral antioxidant treatment (Fertilis), which contains L-carnitine and some micronutrients, in the improvement of conventional sperm parameters, sperm DNA integrity and in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) outcomes. A total of 263 participants were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups: 131 participants received the antioxidant treatment, while 132 participants received a placebo. The male partners in both groups underwent the antioxidant treatment or the placebo for a duration of three months. For each participant, we performed a hormonal test, an infectious test, a spermogram, a TUNEL assay for sperm DNA fragmentation, a toluidine blue staining for sperm DNA decondensation, and an IVF/ICSI procedure. Sperm characteristics analysis (volume, count, motility, and vitality), sperm DNA fragmentation, and sperm DNA decondensation were assessed and compared to the results preceding the antioxidant treatment. The study outcome revealed a significant decrease in the DNA fragmentation index and a significant increase in sperm motility after 3 months of treatment (<i>p</i> = 0.01 and <i>p</i> = 0.02, respectively). Additionally, a significant improvement in clinical pregnancy rate (<i>p</i> = 0.01) and life birth rate (<i>p</i> = 0.031) was observed. No significant changes were observed in conventional sperm parameters (volume, count, and vitality) or sperm DNA decondensation (SDI). Antioxidant therapy has a beneficial impact on achieving pregnancy, whether through spontaneous conception or assisted reproductive procedures (ART). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:04:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-52eeb162255e486195d8f5ab95f840e0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3921 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:04:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antioxidants |
| spelling | doaj.art-52eeb162255e486195d8f5ab95f840e02023-11-24T14:25:42ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212023-10-011211193710.3390/antiox12111937Effect of Micronutrients and L-Carnitine as Antioxidant on Sperm Parameters, Genome Integrity, and ICSI Outcomes: Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical TrialMarwa Lahimer0Oumaima Gherissi1Nesrine Ben Salem2Henda Ben Mustapha3Véronique Bach4Hafida Khorsi-Cauet5Hedi Khairi6Habib Ben Ali7Moncef BenKhalifa8Mounir Ajina9Service of Reproductive Biology, University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, TunisiaService of Reproductive Biology, University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, TunisiaService of Reproductive Biology, University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, TunisiaService of Reproductive Biology, University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, TunisiaPERITOX-(UMR-I 01), UPJV/INERIS, UPJV, CURS, Chemin du Thil, 80025 Amiens, FrancePERITOX-(UMR-I 01), UPJV/INERIS, UPJV, CURS, Chemin du Thil, 80025 Amiens, FranceFaculty of Medicine Ibn Eljazzar of Sousse, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Sousse University, Sousse 4000, TunisiaLaboratory Histology Embryologiy, Faculty of Medicine Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, TunisiaPERITOX-(UMR-I 01), UPJV/INERIS, UPJV, CURS, Chemin du Thil, 80025 Amiens, FranceService of Reproductive Biology, University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, TunisiaThe evaluation of sperm DNA integrity is recommended in the sixth edition of the 2021 World Health Organization guidelines. Oxidative stress has been identified as a crucial factor leading to genome decay, lipid peroxidation, and nucleoprotein oxidation. This double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial aimed to assess the effect of oral antioxidant treatment (Fertilis), which contains L-carnitine and some micronutrients, in the improvement of conventional sperm parameters, sperm DNA integrity and in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) outcomes. A total of 263 participants were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups: 131 participants received the antioxidant treatment, while 132 participants received a placebo. The male partners in both groups underwent the antioxidant treatment or the placebo for a duration of three months. For each participant, we performed a hormonal test, an infectious test, a spermogram, a TUNEL assay for sperm DNA fragmentation, a toluidine blue staining for sperm DNA decondensation, and an IVF/ICSI procedure. Sperm characteristics analysis (volume, count, motility, and vitality), sperm DNA fragmentation, and sperm DNA decondensation were assessed and compared to the results preceding the antioxidant treatment. The study outcome revealed a significant decrease in the DNA fragmentation index and a significant increase in sperm motility after 3 months of treatment (<i>p</i> = 0.01 and <i>p</i> = 0.02, respectively). Additionally, a significant improvement in clinical pregnancy rate (<i>p</i> = 0.01) and life birth rate (<i>p</i> = 0.031) was observed. No significant changes were observed in conventional sperm parameters (volume, count, and vitality) or sperm DNA decondensation (SDI). Antioxidant therapy has a beneficial impact on achieving pregnancy, whether through spontaneous conception or assisted reproductive procedures (ART).https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/12/11/1937antioxidantoxidative stresshuman sperm qualityDNA integrityICSI outcome |
| spellingShingle | Marwa Lahimer Oumaima Gherissi Nesrine Ben Salem Henda Ben Mustapha Véronique Bach Hafida Khorsi-Cauet Hedi Khairi Habib Ben Ali Moncef BenKhalifa Mounir Ajina Effect of Micronutrients and L-Carnitine as Antioxidant on Sperm Parameters, Genome Integrity, and ICSI Outcomes: Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial Antioxidants antioxidant oxidative stress human sperm quality DNA integrity ICSI outcome |
| title | Effect of Micronutrients and L-Carnitine as Antioxidant on Sperm Parameters, Genome Integrity, and ICSI Outcomes: Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial |
| title_full | Effect of Micronutrients and L-Carnitine as Antioxidant on Sperm Parameters, Genome Integrity, and ICSI Outcomes: Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Micronutrients and L-Carnitine as Antioxidant on Sperm Parameters, Genome Integrity, and ICSI Outcomes: Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Micronutrients and L-Carnitine as Antioxidant on Sperm Parameters, Genome Integrity, and ICSI Outcomes: Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial |
| title_short | Effect of Micronutrients and L-Carnitine as Antioxidant on Sperm Parameters, Genome Integrity, and ICSI Outcomes: Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial |
| title_sort | effect of micronutrients and l carnitine as antioxidant on sperm parameters genome integrity and icsi outcomes randomized double blind and placebo controlled clinical trial |
| topic | antioxidant oxidative stress human sperm quality DNA integrity ICSI outcome |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/12/11/1937 |
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