With the step-up of the aging process, the increase of old population and the advance of living standard, China has already entered into the aged society. Problems on the health and life quality of the aging male have been receiving more and more attention from scientific researchers. Partial androgen deficiency in the aging male (PADAM) is a kind of syndrome which affects the aging male s health. At present, testosterone supplementation therapy is mostly used to improve the symptoms of PADAM, but it may bring some adverse effects, such as erythrocytosis and hyperplasia and carcinoma of the prostate. Some studies have shown that quite a few nutrients, especially vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc and selenium are favorably related to androgen deficiency and sperm production. This article discussed the effects of micronutrients on PADAM.
Aged ; Androgens ; deficiency ; Deficiency Diseases ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Micronutrients ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Selenium ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin A ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin E ; therapeutic use ; Zinc ; therapeutic use

Disease Progression ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; surgery ; therapy ; Humans ; Steroids ; therapeutic use ; Tonsillectomy ; Vitamin E ; therapeutic use

Antioxidants ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Liver ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Metformin ; therapeutic use ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin E ; therapeutic use

In an attempt to clarify the protective action of an antioxidant agent against acute toxicity of thioacetamide (TAA) and in order to throw some light on an satisfying concept of the mechanism of its action, a single dose of alphatocopherol (200 mg per kg) was given orally by stomch tube to male mice prior to the administration of thioacetamide in a dose of 200 mg per kg of body weight. Sections of liver samples, obtained from the mice which were sacrificed at intervals of 3, 6, 9, or 12 hours after TAA administration, were stained using the methyl green-pyronin technique. At 3 hours following TAA administration, the pretreatment with alpha-tocopherol inhibited almost completely such alterations of the hepatocytes in the animals given TAA alone, as revealed by loss and clumping of cytoplasmic pyroninophilic granules in the periportal zone of the lobule. At 6, 9, and l2 hours, the prevention of alpha-tocopherol was incomplete in degree and extent. The changes of the hepatocytes were more intense and extensive in the TAA-treated 6 to 12 hour-groups than in the 3 hour-group of TAA-treated ones. Some discussion is given of the mechanism of TAA toxicity, with respect to the microsoma1 lipid peroxidation.
Acetamides/poisoning* ; Animal ; Hepatitis, Toxic/pathology* ; Hepatitis, Toxic/prevention & control ; Liver/pathology* ; Male ; Mice ; Vitamin E/pharmacology* ; Vitamin E/therapeutic use

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of Gujing Maisiha Tablets combined with natural vitamin E in the treatment of idiopathic asthenospermia. METHODS: This study included 135 outpatients with idiopathic asthenospermia received in our hospital from February 2015 to January 2016. We randomly divided them into a treatment group (n = 65, aged 22－44 ［mean 32.8］ yr) and a control group (n = 55, aged 21－43 ［mean 33.7］ yr) to be treated with Gujing Maisiha Tablets combined with natural vitamin E or natural vitamin E only, both for 90 days. We obtained total sperm motility and the percentage of progressively motile sperm (PMS) from the patients before and after medication and evaluated the clinical effects by comparing the collected parameters and pregnancy rates between the two groups. RESULTS: The baseline total sperm motility and PMS were (25.23 ± 5.57)% and (17.53 ± 5.78)% in the treatment group, with no statistically significant differences from (26.05 ± 6.77)% and (15.11 ± 6.55)% in the control (P >0.05). After 90 days of medication, both the treatment and the control groups showed remarkable increases in total sperm motility (［48.73 ± 8.66］% and ［36.54 ± 8.09］%, P <0.05) and PMS (［32.77 ± 6.04］% and ［26.99 ± 6.87］%, P <0.05). However, both total sperm motility and PMS were significantly higher in the treatment than in the control group after medication (P <0.05), and so was the total rate of clinical effectiveness (73.85% vs 54.55%, P <0.05). No adverse reactions were observed in either of the two groups during the treatment. CONCLUSIONS Gujing Maisiha Tablets combined with natural vitamin E is safe and effective for the treatment of idiopathic asthenospermia.
Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Sperm Motility ; Tablets ; Treatment Outcome ; Vitamin E ; therapeutic use ; Vitamins ; therapeutic use

Increased generation of ROS causes the lipid oxidation of the membrane of spermatozoa, but antioxidant vitamins play an important role in reproduction and help clear away ROS and protect the sperm membrane from lipid oxidation. This review focused on the effect of antioxidant vitamins on male reproduction and in the treatment of male infertility.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; adverse effects ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Vitamin A ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin E ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

AIMTo study the immune-modulating and anti-oxidant effects of beta-glucan, papaya, lactoferrin, and vitamins C and E on sperm characteristics of patients with asthenoteratozoospermia associated with leucocytosis.

METHODSFifty-one patients referred to our Sterility Center for semen analysis were selected. Sperm parameters were assessed before and after patient's treatment with beta-glucan, lactoferrin, papaya, and vitamins C and E. DNA damage was assessed by the acridine orange test and sperm structural characteristics were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSAfter 90 days of treatment, an increase in the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (17.0 +/- 5.2 vs. 29.8 +/- 6.5) and total progressive motility (19.0 +/- 7.8 vs. 34.8 +/- 6.8) were detected. Structural sperm characteristics as well as chromatin integrity were also improved after treatment. In terms of leukocyte concentration in seminal fluid, a significant reduction was recorded (2.2 +/- 0.9 vs. 0.9 +/- 0.2).

CONCLUSIONThe treatment of an inflammatory process by the synergic action of immune modulators and anti-oxidants could protect sperm during maturation and migration, leading to improved sperm function.

Adult ; Antioxidants ; therapeutic use ; Ascorbic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Carica ; Humans ; Lactoferrin ; therapeutic use ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Preparations ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; Treatment Outcome ; Vitamin E ; therapeutic use ; beta-Glucans ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and safety of vitamin D (VD) in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia.

METHODSThis study included 86 infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia, who were randomized to a VD and a control group of equal number, the former given oral VD 200 IU/d and calcium 600 mg/d,qd, while the latter administered oral vitamin E 100 mg and vitamin C 100 mg, tid. After 3 months of medication, we compared the semen parameters, adverse reactions, and pregnancy rate between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter medication, the count of progressively motile sperm per ejaculate was increased from (9.82 ± 3.72) x 10(6) to (21.47 ± 6.52) x 10(6) ( P < 0.05) and the proportion of progressively motile sperm from (18.41 ± 9.82)% to (28.27 ± 4.47)% (P < 0.05) in the VD group. In comparison, the count of progressively motile sperm per ejaculate was elevated from (9.51 ± 6.31) x 10(6) to (12.36 ± 4.43) x 10(6) (P > 0.05) and the proportion of progressively motile sperm from (17.79 ± 5.25)% to (21.35 ± 2.41)% (P > 0.05) in the control group. Pregnancy was achieved in 7 cases (16.3%) in the VD group, but only lease (2.3%) in the control (P < 0.05). No adverse reactions were observed in either of the groups.

CONCLUSIONVitamin D, as a safe option for the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia, can effectively improve the semen quality, especially the progressive sperm motility of the patient.

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Semen ; drug effects ; physiology ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Vitamin D ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin E ; therapeutic use ; Vitamins ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of oral sodium selenite and vitamin E on thyroid hormones in patients with cardiovascular disease at altitude.

METHODSNinety patients with cardiovascular disease were divided into A group (n = 42, sodium selenite + VE), B group (n = 28, sodium selenite only) and control group (n = 20). Serum selenium (Se), plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and serum T(3) and T(4) were determined before and after 6 month treatment.

RESULTSSerum Se in A and B group after 6 month treatment were higher than before [(0.71 +/- 0.22) micromol/L vs (0.31 +/- 0.17) micromol/L, (0.68 +/- 0.18) micromol/L vs (0.33 +/- 0.14) micromol/L respectively, P < 0.01], and so were plasma GSH-Px levels [(87.12 +/- 13.61) U/L vs (58.43 +/- 18.93) U/L, (84.79 +/- 12.13) U/L vs (57.12 +/- 17.36) U/L respectively] while plasma MDA were lower than before [(4.86 +/- 1.18) nmol/ml vs (8.66 +/- 0.96) nmol/ml, (4.18 +/- 1.23) nmol/ml vs (8.71 +/- 0.87) nmol/ml respectively, P < 0.01]. Serum T(3) and T(4) levels in A and B group were also obviously decreased (P < 0.01). The levels of plasma GSH-Px were positively correlated with those of serum Se (r = 0.781, P < 0.01). The levels of plasma MDA and serum T(3) and T(4) were negatively correlated with those of serum Se (r = -0.385, -0.687, -0.412 respectively, P < 0.05). 31 cases (73.81%) in A group and 20 cases (71.42%) in B group completely recovered to normal; 4 cases (9.52%) in A group and 2 cases (7.43%) in B group partly recovered. The recovered rates were significantly different from that of control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSupplementation of adequate selenium may correct the abnormal function of secretion in thyroid hormones of patients because of lack of selenium at altitude areas.

Adult ; Altitude ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; blood ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sodium Selenite ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Thyroid Hormones ; blood ; Vitamin E ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVEOne of the important reasons for male infertility is asthenozoospermia, for which there is no specific cure for the time being. The authors explored the clinical effect of L-carnitine for infertile males with asthenozoospermia.

METHODSA total of 135 patients with asthenozoospermia were randomly divided into Groups A (n = 68) and B (n = 67), the former treated with L-carnitine (2 g/d) and vitamin E, while the latter with vitamin E only, both for 3 months. All the patients received semen analyses before and after the treatment, and were observed for adverse effects. The pregnancy rates of their wives were recorded.

RESULTSGroup A showed a significantly increased percentage of forward motile sperm after the treatment (45.4% +/- 11.1%) as compared with pretreatment (28.6% +/- 9.2%) (P < 0.01), but no statistically significant differences were found in sperm density and the percentage of the sperm of normal morphology (P > 0.05). The rate of pregnancy was significantly higher in Group A (31.1%) than in B (3.8%) after the treatment (P < 0.01). No adverse events were found during the treatment.

CONCLUSIONL-carnitine, capable of significantly improving sperm motility and raising the rate of pregnancy, is a safe and effective therapeutic option for asthenozoospermia.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Carnitine ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Treatment Outcome ; Vitamin E ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult