Does oral antioxidant administration improve semen parameters in infertile men?

It is well established that oxidative stress (OS) plays a major role in male infertility. OS occurs when the production of potentially destructive reactive oxygen species (ROS) exceeds the body's own natural antioxidant defenses, resulting in cellular damage. Antioxidant and trace element supplementation to infertile men has shown considerable improvement in sperm parameters; however, the issue of oral administration of antioxidants as therapy for male sub-fertility still remains a debate. Also, very recently, there has been an alarming report on the adverse effect of antioxidant administration by a group of researchers from the Copenhagen University (2007). One of the main reasons for an increase in the risk of death may be excessive interference with the natural defense mechanism within the body by knocking out ‘free radicals’. Also, commercially available antioxidants are expensive for a developing country like India. Hence, study of the actual efficacy of oral antioxidant consisted of lycopene, carotene, wheat germ oil, calcium ascorbate, vitamin B12, selenium and zinc needs further attention.