P-27: The Effects of Combined Docosahexaenoic Acid and Vitamin E Supplementation onSpermatogram in Asthenozoospermic Men

Background: The motility patterns of spermatozoa correlate with the rate of natural pregnancy. It is not clear which compounds in spermatozoa or seminal plasma may be involved in the regulation of sperm motility. Considering the decrease of omega-3 fatty acids in spermatozoa of asthenozoospermic men, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of combined docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and vitamin E supplements on spermatogram in asthenozoospermic men. Materials and Methods: In this randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 50 asthenozoospermic males, defined as less than 50% sperm motility or less than 25% with rapid progressive motility, were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Participants in the intervention group took daily 465 mg of DHA and 600 IU of vitamin E; and those in the control group took daily two placebos for 12 weeks. Fatty acid analysis of sperm and serum was performed using capillary gas chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography respectively. Sperm characteristics, dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements and physical activity were measured at the baseline and at the end of the study. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software version 20.0, the statistical tests being analysis of covariance, paired-samples t-test and student t test. Results: Out of 50 participants, 22 men in the intervention group and 20 men in the control group completed the protocol of the study. The baseline characteristics of patients did not differ significantly between the two groups. There were no significant differences in mean dietary intake of total energy, macronutrients and micronutrients between the two groups at baseline or at the end of weeks 6 and 12. In addition, these factors did not significantly change within each group during the study. In serum, DHA and vitamin E supplementation resulted in increase in DHA of serum and the ratio of serum omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids in the intervention group, as compared with the control values (p=0.02 and p=0.03 respectively). DHA levels in sperm, percentage of motile sperms, percentage of motile sperms with a straight direction and sperm concentration increased in the intervention group respectively, as compared with the control values (p=0.001, p=0.01, p=0.03 and p=0.007 respectively).Conclusion: The results of our study indicated that combined DHA and vitamin E supplements led to increasing sperm motility and DHA levels in sperm in the asthenozoospermic men. DHA and vitamin E, as an antioxidant, may improve sperm motility.