6 research outputs found
Astaxanthin ameliorates inflammation, oxidative stress, and reproductive outcomes in endometriosis patients undergoing assisted reproduction: A randomized, triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial
PurposeIn a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (RCT) including 50 infertile women with endometriosis candidate for assisted reproductive techniques (ART), we studied the effect of Astaxanthin (AST) on pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress (OS) markers, and early pregnancy outcomes.MethodsBefore and after 12 weeks of AST treatment (6 mg per day), blood serum and follicular fluid (FF) samples were collected from 50 infertile women with endometriosis stage III/IV undergoing ART. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and OS markers (malondialdehyde [MDA], superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], and total antioxidant capacity [TAC]) were measured in the serum and FF. ART outcomes were also compared between the groups.ResultsIncreased serum levels of TAC (398.661 ± 57.686 vs. 364.746 ± 51.569; P = 0.004) and SOD (13.458 ± 7.276 vs. 9.040 ± 5.155; P = 0.010) were observed after AST therapy in the treatment group. Furthermore, serum MDA (14.619 ± 2.505 vs. 15.939 ± 1.512; P = 0.031) decreased significantly following antioxidant treatment. In addition, significantly lower serum levels of IL-1β (4.515 ± 0.907 vs. 6.8760 ± 0.8478; P = 0.000), IL-6 (5.516 ± 0.646 vs. 5.0543 ± 0.709; P = 0.024) and TNF-α (2.520 ± 0.525 vs. 2.968 ± 0.548; P = 0.038) were observed after AST treatment. In addition, AST supplementation led to an improved number of oocytes retrieved (14.60 ± 7.79 vs. 9.84 ± 6.44; P = 0.043), number of mature (MII) oocytes (10.48 ± 6.665 vs. 6.72 ± 4.3; P = 0.041), and high-quality embryos (4.52 ± 2.41 vs. 2.72 ± 2.40; P = 0.024).ConclusionAST pretreatment can modulate inflammation and OS in endometriosis-induced infertile patients. ART outcomes also improved after 12 weeks of AST therapy. Our results suggest that AST can be a potential therapeutic target for infertile patients with endometriosis undergoing ART
Effect of Trolox addition to cryopreservation media on human sperm motility
Background: Sperm parameters and motion kinetics are affected by
cryopreservation. Objective: The main purpose of the current study was
to determine the effect of different concentrations of Trolox as an
antioxidant to freezing-thawing procedure on human sperm kinematic
parameter. Materials and Methods: Semen was collected from 20 normal
donors and divided into five aliquots prior to cryopreservation. The
first aliquot was analyzed by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA).
Other aliquots were mixed with cryo-protective agent containing 0, 20,
40, and 80 ÎĽmol Trolox and treated samples were cryopreserved in
liquid nitrogen. After two weeks samples were thawed and sperm motion
kinematics was measured by CASA. Percent motility (Mot), curvilinear
velocity (VCL), straight-line velocity (VSL), average path velocity
(VAP), linearity (LIN), and amplitude of lateral head displacement
(ALH) were compared before and after freeze. Results: Addition of
40ÎĽmol Trolox resulted in significantly higher (p<0.05) post
thaw VCL, VSL and VAP compared to other groups. Therefore the
percentage of post thaw motile spermatozoa were significantly higher
(p<0.01). Conclusion: The supplementation of Trolox significantly
improved the post-thawed human semen quality, especially progressive
motility and average path velocity