Document Type : Research articles

Authors

• Soheila Pourmasumi ^{1, 2}
• Nasrin Ghasemi ³
• Alireza Talebi ⁴
• Jalal Ghasemzadeh ⁴
• Parvin Sabeti ⁵

¹ Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

² Clinical Research Development Unit (CRDU), Moradi Hospital, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

³ Abortion Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

⁴ Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

⁵ Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

Abstract

Background: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) is an important medical problem comprising approximately 15% of all pregnancies. Sperm DNA damage and level of seminal ROS may have a role in RPL.
Objectives: The main aim of the present study was to appraise the efficacy of antioxidants for improving these parameters in RPL patients.
Methods: In a clinical trial, 90 couples suffering from RPL were divided into two groups from April 2014 to December 2015 at the Yazd Research and Clinical Center for Infertility in Iran. Group I received supplemental vitamin E (400 μg) daily in combination with Se (200 μg) and the other group received vitamin E plus zinc for three months. Sperm parameters, sperm DNA damage, and seminal ROS were evaluated before and after treatment and compared between the two groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS and P values of ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results: Our results revealed normal sperm parameters in RPL patients. Sperm parameters substantially improved in the two treated groups (P ≤ 0.05). The ROS level dramatically reduced in the two groups (P = 0.01). The evaluation of chromatin integrity with AB staining did not show any remarkable changes in group 1 (P = 0.3), but it showed a considerable rate reduction in group 2 (P = 0.04). Also, it showed significant decreases with TB, CMA3, and TUNEL assays in both groups (P = 0.001). However, we did not find any significant difference between the two groups.
Conclusions: Supplemental vitamin E in combination with selenium or zinc may improve semen quality by decreasing the level of seminal ROS and sperm DNA damage in RPL patients. We advocate their use for improving the quality of the men’s sperm DNA.

Keywords

• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
• Selenium
• Sperm
• Vitamin E
• Zinc