The Effect of Antioxidant Supplementation on Operated or Non-Operated Varicocele-Associated Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
In patients with varicocele-associated infertility, the effect of antioxidant supplementation on fertility is unknown. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore their role in patients with operated or non-operated varicocele. We searched major databases and sources of grey litera...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Antioxidants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/7/1067 |
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| author | Nikolaos Pyrgidis Ioannis Sokolakis Vasileios Palapelas Maksim Tishukov Ioannis Mykoniatis Evangelos N. Symeonidis Athanasios Zachariou Aris Kaltsas Nikolaos Sofikitis Georgios Hatzichristodoulou Chara Tsiampali Fotios Dimitriadis |
| author_facet | Nikolaos Pyrgidis Ioannis Sokolakis Vasileios Palapelas Maksim Tishukov Ioannis Mykoniatis Evangelos N. Symeonidis Athanasios Zachariou Aris Kaltsas Nikolaos Sofikitis Georgios Hatzichristodoulou Chara Tsiampali Fotios Dimitriadis |
| author_sort | Nikolaos Pyrgidis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In patients with varicocele-associated infertility, the effect of antioxidant supplementation on fertility is unknown. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore their role in patients with operated or non-operated varicocele. We searched major databases and sources of grey literature until May 2021 (PROSPERO: CRD42021248195). We included 14 studies (980 individuals) in the systematic review. Of the 14 studies, 2 explored the effect of antioxidant supplementation in patients with non-operated varicocele, 1 compared antioxidants versus surgical repair of varicocele, while 11 explored antioxidants after surgical repair of varicocele and were also included in the meta-analysis. Regarding pregnancy rates, no significant differences were demonstrated after treatment with antioxidants versus no treatment at three (OR: 2.28, 95% CI: 0.7–7.48) and six months (OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 0.62–5.72). Accordingly, contradictory findings were reported in sperm concentration, morphology, and motility, as well as DNA fragmentation. Our findings indicate that antioxidant supplementation does not improve pregnancy rates and semen parameters in patients with varicocele-associated infertility, in the absence of previous screening for oxidative stress. Based on the previous notion, most included studies also raised methodological concerns. Therefore, definitive conclusions about the efficacy of antioxidant supplementation in this setting cannot be drawn and further research on the field is mandatory. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:48:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fb4050e82d8d47188defa49699ad0347 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3921 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:48:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antioxidants |
| spelling | doaj.art-fb4050e82d8d47188defa49699ad03472023-11-22T03:04:51ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212021-07-01107106710.3390/antiox10071067The Effect of Antioxidant Supplementation on Operated or Non-Operated Varicocele-Associated Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisNikolaos Pyrgidis0Ioannis Sokolakis1Vasileios Palapelas2Maksim Tishukov3Ioannis Mykoniatis4Evangelos N. Symeonidis5Athanasios Zachariou6Aris Kaltsas7Nikolaos Sofikitis8Georgios Hatzichristodoulou9Chara Tsiampali10Fotios Dimitriadis11Department of Urology, Martha-Maria Hospital Nuremberg, 90491 Nuremberg, GermanyDepartment of Urology, Martha-Maria Hospital Nuremberg, 90491 Nuremberg, Germany3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceUrology Department, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceUrology Department, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceUrology Department, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Urology, School of Medicine, Ioannina University, 45110 Ioannina, GreeceDepartment of Urology, School of Medicine, Ioannina University, 45110 Ioannina, GreeceDepartment of Urology, School of Medicine, Ioannina University, 45110 Ioannina, GreeceDepartment of Urology, Martha-Maria Hospital Nuremberg, 90491 Nuremberg, GermanyPrivate Pharmacy, 54250 Thessaloniki, GreeceUrology Department, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceIn patients with varicocele-associated infertility, the effect of antioxidant supplementation on fertility is unknown. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore their role in patients with operated or non-operated varicocele. We searched major databases and sources of grey literature until May 2021 (PROSPERO: CRD42021248195). We included 14 studies (980 individuals) in the systematic review. Of the 14 studies, 2 explored the effect of antioxidant supplementation in patients with non-operated varicocele, 1 compared antioxidants versus surgical repair of varicocele, while 11 explored antioxidants after surgical repair of varicocele and were also included in the meta-analysis. Regarding pregnancy rates, no significant differences were demonstrated after treatment with antioxidants versus no treatment at three (OR: 2.28, 95% CI: 0.7–7.48) and six months (OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 0.62–5.72). Accordingly, contradictory findings were reported in sperm concentration, morphology, and motility, as well as DNA fragmentation. Our findings indicate that antioxidant supplementation does not improve pregnancy rates and semen parameters in patients with varicocele-associated infertility, in the absence of previous screening for oxidative stress. Based on the previous notion, most included studies also raised methodological concerns. Therefore, definitive conclusions about the efficacy of antioxidant supplementation in this setting cannot be drawn and further research on the field is mandatory.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/7/1067varicocelevaricocelectomyinfertilityantioxidantsmeta-analysis |
| spellingShingle | Nikolaos Pyrgidis Ioannis Sokolakis Vasileios Palapelas Maksim Tishukov Ioannis Mykoniatis Evangelos N. Symeonidis Athanasios Zachariou Aris Kaltsas Nikolaos Sofikitis Georgios Hatzichristodoulou Chara Tsiampali Fotios Dimitriadis The Effect of Antioxidant Supplementation on Operated or Non-Operated Varicocele-Associated Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Antioxidants varicocele varicocelectomy infertility antioxidants meta-analysis |
| title | The Effect of Antioxidant Supplementation on Operated or Non-Operated Varicocele-Associated Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_full | The Effect of Antioxidant Supplementation on Operated or Non-Operated Varicocele-Associated Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Antioxidant Supplementation on Operated or Non-Operated Varicocele-Associated Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Antioxidant Supplementation on Operated or Non-Operated Varicocele-Associated Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_short | The Effect of Antioxidant Supplementation on Operated or Non-Operated Varicocele-Associated Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_sort | effect of antioxidant supplementation on operated or non operated varicocele associated infertility a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | varicocele varicocelectomy infertility antioxidants meta-analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/7/1067 |
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