The association between dietary antioxidant intake and semen quality in infertile men

Background: Oxidative stress is detrimental to semen quality and has a significant role in the etiology of male subfertility. Methods: Dietary intake of antioxidants were compared between thirty two men with oligolastheno/ tera-tazoospermic (cases) and 32 normospermic volunteers (controls) attending fertility clinic in Mirza Koochak-khan Hospital in Tehran, Iran. All participants were nonsmokers and matched according their age and Body Mass Index (BMI). Nutrient consumption was calculated using a semi- quantitative food frequency question-naire. Semen samples were collected and were assessed by measuring volume, concentration, motility and mor-phology. Results: infertile subjects had a significantly lower intake of zinc and folate compare to control ones (p < 0.001). Dietary intake of vitamin C and E was lower than recommended values in 59.4% of case group that was significantly different from control ones (p < 0.05). In control group, 36.4 and 40.9% of participants had insufficient dietary intake of vitamin C and E, respectively. Significant correlations were found between folate (r=0.5, p < 0.001), zinc (r=0.6, p < 0.001) and percentage of motility and also between vitamin E and morphology (r=0.3, p=0.03), zinc and concentration (r=0.4, p=0.004) in all participants. Conclusion: In summary, a low intake of folate, zinc, and vitamin E were related to poor sperm concentration and motility.