Document Type : Original Article(s)
Authors
- Farshad Gholipour 1
- Davoud Gharakhani 2
- Amirhossein Rahavian 3
- Mahdi Norouzi 4
- Mohammadreza Hajian 5
- Serajoddin Vahidi 2
- Mohammad Javad Nazarpour 1
- Farbod Khorrami 6
1 Isfahan Kidney Disease Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
3 Andrology Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
4 School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
5 Nikan Research Institute, Isfahan, Iran
6 Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Abstract
Background: Idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (iOAT) treatment still poses significant challenges. This study aims to compare the therapeutic efficacy of probiotics on sperm parameters of iOAT patients with placebo and antioxidants.
Methods: In this triple-blind, randomized controlled trial, 110 men with iOAT were assigned to receive either a probiotic (Familact®), an antioxidant (Sperigen®), or a placebo daily for 3 months, in two academic centers in Iran (Isfahan and Yazd). The study was conducted from July 2021 to April 2022. Sperm parameters were analyzed using computer-assisted semen analysis. The main measured outcomes included semen volume and sperm features, including motility, morphology, and concentration. Changes in semen parameters were assessed using linear mixed-effects models with fixed effects for time, group, and their interaction. Estimated marginal means were compared across groups using Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise tests.
Results: Overall, 110 men (mean age of 34.3±4.5 years) were included in the final analysis. Significant Time×Group interactions were found for sperm concentration (P=0.003), motility (P<0.001), and morphology (P<0.001), but not for semen volume (P=0.71). After 3 months, the probiotic group showed significantly greater improvements in sperm concentration (10.42±1.11×106/mL, P=0.007), motility (46.65±3.73%, P=0.001), and morphology (4.31±0.21%, P<0.001) compared to the placebo group. Additionally, probiotics outperformed antioxidants in morphology (P<0.001) and motility (P=0.009).
Conclusion: This study is the first to directly compare probiotics and antioxidants in treating iOAT. Probiotics showed superior performance in sperm motility and morphology compared to antioxidants, although drawing a strong conclusion requires further robust studies.
Trial Registration Number: IRCT20150420021869N5.
Highlights
Farshad Gholipour (Google Scholar)
Amirhossein Rahavian (Google Scholar)
Keywords
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