beta-carotene and Infertility

We aimed to explore the relationship between intakes of food-derived antioxidants (zinc, vitamin E, β-carotene, and selenium) and semen parameters in an infertile male population. This is a cross-sectional study among infertile men (> 18 years) referred to Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center in Iran from March 2019 to October 2019. The main outcome measures were semen volume, sperm count, concentration, total motility, and morphology. Micronutrients considered in this analysis were zinc, selenium, β-carotene, and vitamin E. A total of 350 infertile men with a mean (SE) age of 34.77 (0.42) were included in this study. Selenium intake tended to be positively associated with higher semen volume (β = 0.79; 95% CI: - 0.01, 1.59) and sperm total motility after adjustment for main confounders (β = 2.64; 95% CI: - 3.61, 8.89). Intake of β-carotene was only associated with higher sperm total motility (β = 5.46; 95% CI: - 0.84, 11.77). No significant association was detected between intakes of zinc and vitamin E and semen parameters.In a population of infertile adult men, selenium intake was associated with higher sperm total motility and semen volume, and in the case of β-carotene, better sperm total motility. Further, prospective studies are warranted.

Topics: Adult; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Infertility; Infertility, Male; Iran; Male; Selenium; Semen; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa; Vitamin E; Zinc

Randomized clinical trials show that men's use of antioxidant supplements during infertility treatment may improve clinical outcomes. However, important limitations in the design of most trials make it difficult to draw firm conclusions on their findings.. We examined whether men's intake of antioxidants and biologically related compounds without direct antioxidant capacity is associated with outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs).. We conducted a prospective cohort study of men in couples who underwent infertility treatment with ART using their own gametes between 2007 and 2017. We followed 171 couples who presented at Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center and underwent 294 autologous ART cycles for infertility treatment. Diet was assessed in both partners using an FFQ. The primary study outcome was the probability of achieving a live birth as a result of infertility treatment. Secondary outcomes were fertilization, implantation, and clinical pregnancy rates. Generalized linear mixed models with random intercepts were fitted to account for multiple ART cycles per woman while adjusting for confounding.. Men's vitamin C intake was positively associated with fertilization rate. The adjusted fertilization rate (95% CI) for couples in the lowest and highest quartiles of men's vitamin C intake were 69% (61-76%) and 81% (74-86%) (P-trend = 0.02). Men's β-carotene intake was positively associated with fertilization rate in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles but not in conventional in vitro fertilization cycles (P-interaction = 0.01). Men's α-carotene intake was inversely related to the probability of live birth. The adjusted probabilities of live birth for men in the lowest and highest quartiles of α-carotene intake were 43% (28-60%) and 22% (12-36%), respectively.. Men's intake of vitamin C and β-carotene is positively related to fertilization rate but this does not translate into higher pregnancy or live birth rates in couples undergoing infertility treatment.

Topics: Adult; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Birth Rate; Cohort Studies; Dietary Supplements; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infertility; Live Birth; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Prospective Studies; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic

Topics: Animal Husbandry; Animals; Bacterial Infections; beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Diet; Female; Infertility; Lactation; Male; Pregnancy; Soil