'Even miracles take little time': New study spurs hope for infertile men

Hyderabad: A new study has revealed that a combination of antioxidants, micronutrients, and vitamins can improve male fertility parameters by 76 percent even in severe cases of infertility.

Titled ‘Impact of antioxidants in improving semen parameters like count, motility and DNA fragmentation in sub-fertile males: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial,’ the study was conducted by 'Meyer Vitabiotics' at 10 different sites across India.

The trial involved 300 participants who met the eligibility criteria and the results obtained have been highly promising.

Findings from the study

Among Indian males with a baseline sperm count of less than five million/ml, a blend of multivitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, ginseng, and lycopene increased the sperm count by 75.76 percent. The study was conducted over three months among 300 Indian males with varied types and degrees of infertility.

The encouraging results are a boost to multiple micronutrient therapy that India and also for the use of nutraceuticals in treating male infertility. The study was published in the International Journal ‘Translational and Clinical Pharmacology.’

Causes and treatment of male infertility

Dr Ameet Patki, the trial’s principal investigator says, “Male infertility is solely responsible for 20 to 30% of overall infertility cases. Male factor infertility is a clinical challenge. Abnormalities in semen such as Oligospermia (low sperm count), Asthenozoospermia (sperm motility), and Teratozoospermia (group of abnormal sperm) are most frequently linked with infertility in males.”

“Surgical procedures, hormonal and drug therapy are available treatment options for male infertility but these methods also have special concerns like higher cost, uncertain clinical effectiveness, and side effects. Antioxidants have acquired increasing interest amongst clinicians and researchers for boosting the parameters of male fertility. Sperm DNA fragmentation is known to be higher in infertile men. If it exceeds 30 % of the normal value, it implies sperm quality is significantly reduced. The uniqueness of this trial lies in the inclusion of DFI as one of the assessment factors before and after the treatment,” adds the principal investigator.

Anti-oxidant therapy to improve DFI and semen parameters

Rohit Shelatkar, vice-president of Meyer Vitabiotics says, “Infertility is a serious concern worldwide. As per the earlier published comprehensives, it is reinforced that there is a vital role of diet and antioxidant supplementation in male factor infertility. The limitations of current treatment options call for a convenient, less costly, and yet clinically effective option.

Considering the gaining interest in antioxidant therapy and the need for systematic scientific evidence, the present study was proposed to evaluate the efficacy of antioxidant blend in sub-fertile males.”

“The experiential use of antioxidants in male infertility is aimed at improving semen parameters and DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI), enhancing the probability of conception. The frequently prescribed compounds include vitamins E and C, carnitine, N-acetyl cysteine, selenium, and zinc. Interventional antioxidant blends through a single tablet of Oligocare forte plus, also called Wellman Conception in the UK, is a combination of micronutrients, essential amino acids, antioxidants, and vitamins that are essential for the male reproductive system. The clinical trial was aimed to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of Oligocare forte plus in sub-fertile males,” adds Rohit.