Beneficial Effects of Antioxidants in Male Infertility Management: A Narrative Review

Background: Infertility, defined as the failure to conceive after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse, affects 50–80 million people worldwide. A male factor is involved in approximately 20–30% cases. In etiology infertility, association between poor semen quality and oxidative stress (OS) well known. High levels reactive oxygen species (ROS) allow oxidation DNA, proteins, lipids sperm cells, modifying their vitality, motility, morphology. Methods: To evaluate effects antioxidants on infertile men, we queried MEDLINE database (via PubMed interface) for published studies last 10 years (2011–2021). The following keywords were used: “infertility” -“inositol”, -“alpha-lipoic acid”, -“zinc”, -“folate”, -“coenzyme Q10”, -“selenium”, -“vitamin”. Results: Inositol regulates OS cells thanks its role mitochondrial reactions several processes favoring sperm–oocyte interactions. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) reduces ROS damage improves parameters terms spermatozoa’s morphology, count. Poor zinc nutrition may be related low sperm. Supplementation folate plus has a positive effect concentration with CoQ10 increases concentration, total progressive motility. Selenium (Se) supplementation overall higher ejaculated volume. Among vitamins, only vitamin B12 shows quality; it count motility DNA damage. Conclusions: men showing low-quality semen, diet improve by alleviating OS-induced enhancing hormone synthesis spermatozoa Future clinical trials should focused possible take advantage combined mechanisms action.