Effect of omega 3 fatty acid in infertile males with oligozoospermia

Authors

  • S. M. Munira Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Nastaran Lasker Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Rawnok Laila Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Asma Akter Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Jesmine Banu Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Shakeela Ishrat Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20240121

Keywords:

Oligozoospermia, Omega-3 fatty acid, Sperm concentration, Total motile count

Abstract

Background: Oligozoospermia is the cause of male infertility in 33.3% of cases. Omega-3 fatty acid has been utilized in infertility because of its widespread availability, low cost, and high safety profile. We intended to conduct a study to evaluate the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acid in oligozoospermia.

Methods: A prospective comparative study was conducted in the outdoor of the department of reproductive endocrinology and infertility, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, from July 2022 to August 2023. A total of 70 Infertile males with oligozoospermia, were enrolled in the study. The participants were assigned to the omega-3 fatty acid group who was treated with omega-3 fatty acid 1 gm orally twice daily for 12 weeks. The other group was treated with placebo orally twice daily for 12 weeks. Sixty patients completed the 12 weeks of treatment. The changes in sperm count were determined.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 35.6±4.59 years. Following treatment with omega-3 fatty acid significant improvement was observed in sperm count from 11.10±2.81 million/ml to 34.2±31.36 million/ml. Significant improvement in total motile sperm count was also observed. At the end of 12 weeks of treatment 76.7% of participants in the omega 3 fatty acid group and 10.0% in the placebo group had normozoospermia.

Conclusions: Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid results in improvement of sperm concentration and total motile sperm count in infertile men with oligozoospermia.

References

Sharlip ID, Jarow JP, Belker AM, Lipshultz LI, Sigman M, Thomas AJ, et al. Best practice policies for male infertility. Fertil Steril. 2002;77(5):873-82

Agarwal A, Mulgund A, Hamada A, Chyatte MR. A unique view on male infertility around the globe. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2015;13(1):1-9.

Čipak A, Stanić P, Đurić K, Serdar T, Suchanek E. Sperm morphology assessment according to WHO and strict criteria: method comparison and intra-laboratory variability. Biochem Med. 2009;19(1):87-94

Akhter S, Alam H, Khanam NN, Zabin F. Characteristics of infertile couples. Mymensingh Med J. 2011;20(1):121-7.

Safarinejad MR, Hosseini SY, Dadkhah F, Asgari MA. Relationship of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids with semen characteristics, and anti-oxidant status of seminal plasma: a comparison between fertile and infertile men. Clin Nutr. 2010;29(1):100-5.

Pamplona R. Membrane phospholipids, lipoxidative damage and molecular integrity: a causal role in aging and longevity. Biochem Biophys Acta Bioenerg 2008;1777(10):1249-62.

Lenzi A, Gandini L, Maresca V, Rago R, Sgro P, Dondero F. Fatty acid composition of spermatozoa and immature germ cells. Mol Hum Reprod. 2000;6(3):226-31.

Mazza M, Pomponi M, Janiri L, Bria P, Mazza S. Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants in neurological and psychiatric diseases: an overview. Progr Neuro-Psychopharmacol Biol Psychiatr. 2007;31(1):12-6.

Attaman JA, Toth TL, Furtado J, Campos H, Hauser R, Chavarro JE. Dietary fat and semen quality among men attending a fertility clinic. Hum Reprod. 2012;27(5):1466-74.

Safarinejad MR. Effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on semen profile and enzymatic anti-oxidant capacity of seminal plasma in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study. Andrologia. 2011;43(1):38-47.

Hosseini B, Nourmohamadi M, Hajipour S, Taghizadeh M, Asemi Z, Keshavarz SA. The effect of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA, and/or DHA on male infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Diet Suppl. 2019;16(2):245-56.

Kumar N, Singh AK. Trends of male factor infertility, an important cause of infertility: a review of literature. J Hum Reprod Sci. 2015;8(4):191-6.

Hinton L, Miller T. Mapping men’s anticipations and experiences in the reproductive realm: (in) fertility journeys. Reprod Biomed Online. 2013;27(3):244-52.

Safarinejad RM, Safarinejad S. The roles of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in idiopathic male infertility. Asian J Androl. 2012;14(4):514-5.

Almujaydil MS. The role of dietary nutrients in male infertility: a review. Life. 2023;13(2):519.

González-Ravina C, Aguirre-Lipperheide M, Pinto F, Martín-Lozano D, Fernández-Sánchez M, Blasco V, et al. Effect of dietary supplementation with a highly pure and concentrated docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplement on human sperm function. Reprod Biol. 2018;18(3):282-8.

Mahmud N, Sharmin E, Mamun MA, Shamayeen Z, Rivadeneira N, Rochat R, et al. Decline in semen parameters from 2000 to 2016 among Bangladeshi men attending a tertiary care hospital. Indian J Urol. 2018;34(1):28-33.

Bashed MA, Alam GM, Kabir MA, Al-Amin AQ. Male infertility in Bangladesh: what serve better-pharmacological help or awareness programme? Int J Pharmacol. 2014;8(8):687-94.

Knapp HR. Prostaglandins in human semen during fish oil ingestion: evidence for in vivo cyclooxygenase inhibition and appearance of novel trienoic compounds. Prostaglandins. 1990;39(4):407-23.

Conquer JA, Martin JB, Tummon I, Watson L, Tekpetey F. Effect of DHA supplementation on DHA status and sperm motility in asthenozoospermic males. Lipids. 2000;35(2):149-54.

Martínez-Soto JC, Domingo JC, Cordobilla B, Nicolás M, Fernández L, Albero P, et al. Dietary supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) improves seminal antioxidant status and decreases sperm DNA fragmentation. Syst Biol Reprod Med. 2016;62(6):387-95.

Downloads

Published

2024-01-29

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles