Antioxidant Supplementation on Sperm DNA Fragmentation and Sperm Parameters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE: Infertility affects about 15% of couples in reproductive age worldwide. Male factors are the main causes for this condition. Antioxidants have long been used for infertility treatment as they are easily available with a low cost. In this systematic review, we focused on the relation between antioxidant supplementation and sperm DNA fragmentation and other sperm parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An online search from PubMed and ScienceDirect databases was conducted by 2 reviewers. We reviewed full-text articles to obtain detailed information. RESULTS: Nine articles were included in this study. Four studies revealed a statistically significant reduction of sperm DNA fragmentation and five studies revealed an insignificant decrease of sperm DNA fragmentation. Sperm concentration, sperm motility, and morphology were also increased after antioxidant supplementation. Pregnancy rates were reported in 3 studies; the rates increased in 2 studies, and similar rate to placebo group was observed in 1 study. CONCLUSION: Antioxidant supplementation can counteract against oxidative stress and improve spermatogenesis process reflected by decrease of DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI), improvement of sperm parameters, and elevation of pregnancy rates confirmed by those included studies.