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Selenium-vitamin E supplementation in infertile men

Effects on semen parameters and micronutrient levels and distribution

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Abstract

In order to verify the hypothesis that selenium (Se) and vitamin E (Vit E) could improve male fertility, nine oligoasthenoteratozoospermic men were supplemented for a period of 6 mo with Se and Vit E. Compared to the baseline period (presupplementation) of 4 mo, statistically significant increases were observed for Se and Vit E levels, sperm motility, percent live, and percent normal spermatozoa. These improvements are likely to be “supplementation-dependent,” since all of the parameters returned to baseline values during the posttreatment period. None of the couples reported a pregnancy during the study. The HPLC analysis conducted on the serum of one of the patients showed the existence of at least six different Se-containing peaks, whose Se content was affected by supplementation. The mechanism(s) involved in these improvements of semen parameters is presently under investigation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Montreal, 5415, boul. de l'Assomption, H1T 2M4, Montreal, Canada

    Denis Vézina & Gilles Bleau

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, 5415, boul. de l'Assomption, H1T 2M4, Montreal, Canada

    François Mauffette

  3. Department of Biochemistry, University of Montreal, 5415, boul. de l'Assomption, H1T 2M4, Montreal, Canada

    Kenneth D. Roberts

  4. St-Luc Hospital, 5415, boul. de l'Assomption, H1T 2M4, Montreal, Canada

    François Mauffette

  5. Maisonneuve-Rosemont Research Center, 5415, boul. de l'Assomption, H1T 2M4, Montreal, Canada

    Denis Vézina, Kenneth D. Roberts & Gilles Bleau

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  1. Denis Vézina
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  2. François Mauffette
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  3. Kenneth D. Roberts
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  4. Gilles Bleau
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Vézina, D., Mauffette, F., Roberts, K.D. et al. Selenium-vitamin E supplementation in infertile men. Biol Trace Elem Res 53, 65–83 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02784546

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02784546

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