The role of antioxidants in fertility: A review literature

Background: Childbearing is known as one of the most events in the human life. Incontrast, infertility is an unceasing reproductive condition that its prevalence has increased overthe last few decades. The etiology of ۳۳% cases of infertility is unexplained. It can be influencedby environmental toxins or drugs, medical illnesses or medications, lifestyle choices such asmicronutrients consumption including antioxidants. Thus we reviewed the literature to assess howantioxidants can influence on fertility as an effective factor on population. Methods: In this review,studies were retrieved from conception to August ۲۰۲۲ through a comprehensive search inreference databases including Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar usingkeywords including antioxidants, micronutrients, fertility and infertility and equivalent Persiankeywords. Data were divided and assessed as the effect of each micronutrient on ovum and spermand consequently the fertility of women and men. Results: Out of ۳۰۰ retrieved studies, ۲۰ fulltextones were assessed. According to the literature, reactive oxygen species (ROS), in the humanbody, are produced under physiologic and pathologic condition. They are produced fromendogenous and exogenous resources. Regulated levels of ROS contribute to tissue remodeling,folliculogenesis, ovarian steroidogenesis, oocyte maturation. However, considerable ROS increasehas been related with damage to the DNA of the spermatozoa and oocytes. The consequence ofthis damage include defective fertilization and infertility, apoptosis leading to implantation failure,abortion, and embryo fragmentation. Antioxidants including vit C, Lycopene and folic acid mayenhance the female fertility by upregulating the activities of antioxidants and inhibiting the OS orOS-induced damage. In contrast, there are few evidence that assessed overuse of antioxidants. Itmay cause some effects like infertility. Conclusion: In sum, there are three conditions including"oxidative stress" as a cause of ageing, neurodegenerative diseases and infertility, "reductivestress" as a cause of cancer, cardiomyopathy, blood‐ brain‐ barrier dysfunction and infertility and"redox balance" in which optimal physiological functions occurred. So there should be a balancein antioxidants consumption and between oxidation and reduction, as a substantial factorinfluencing on population, to achieve the best results in fertility.

کلیدواژه ها:

Antioxidants ، Fertility ، Micronutrients