According to a recent report, researchers have suggested that men can combat a contributing factor to low fertility by taking antioxidants.

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SYDNEY: Men who take antioxidant supplements are more likely to get their partners pregnant, according to a new study.

This finding could help thousands of couples struggling to get pregnant, including the 1 in 20 men who are affected by low fertility.

“We’ve got evidence to show that [taking an antioxidant supplement] is a good idea,” said co-author Roger Hart, professor of reproductive medicine at the University of Western Australia and medical director of the Fertility Specialists of Western Australia. “We recommend it to any man who is trying to get his partner pregnant.”

DNA damage plus poor swimming

The paper, published by The Cochrane Library, reviewed 34 different trials investigating several different types of antioxidant, including vitamin E, zinc and magnesium. The researchers found that men who took an antioxidant supplement were more likely to father a child than men who did not.

According to the review, 30 to 80% of low fertility in males may be caused by oxidative stress, which occurs when highly reactive molecules known as reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase in number and cause damage to cells.

This causes the DNA of sperm cells to fragment and affects the swimming ability of the sperm, making pregnancy much less likely, while also increasing the likelihood of miscarriage during assisted reproduction techniques such as IVF.

Tackling one of many problems

Antioxidants are known to neutralise ROS, as well as prevent them forming in the first place.

“Historically, we’ve always looked at the number of sperm. But increasingly, we’re looking at DNA damage,” said Hart. Taking an antioxidant supplement will help to mitigate any damage to the sperm DNA, increasing the likelihood of pregnancy, he said.

Oxidative stress is just one of several factors that can contribute to male low fertility. Peter Illingworth, the medical director of IVF Australia, said that while the study claims that up to 80% of male infertility may be due to oxidative stress, this figure is yet to be supported by further evidence.

“What is really needed is one large study to look at this area,” he said, and explained that small studies often get odd or unusual results that need to be supported by a larger study. He also cautioned men against, “spending a lot of money on antioxidants without good evidence that they will make a difference.”