Wong Wai Yee, Merkus Hans M W M, Thomas Chris M G, Menkveld Roelof, Zielhuis Gerhard A, Steegers-Theunissen Régine P M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Fertil Steril. 2002 Mar;77(3):491-8. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(01)03229-0.
To study the effects of folic acid and zinc sulfate treatment on semen variables in fertile and subfertile men.
Double-blind, placebo-controlled interventional study.
Two outpatient fertility clinics and nine midwifery practices in The Netherlands.
PARTICIPANT(S): One hundred eight fertile and 103 subfertile men.
INTERVENTION(S): Both groups were randomly assigned to receive one of four treatments for 26 weeks: folic acid and placebo, zinc sulfate and placebo, zinc sulfate and folic acid, and two placebos. Folic acid was given at a daily dose of 5 mg, and zinc sulfate was given at a daily dose of 66 mg.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Before and after treatment, standardized semen and blood samples were obtained for determinations of sperm concentration, motility, and morphology according to World Health Organization guidelines; semen morphology according to strict criteria; and blood folate and zinc concentrations. Effects of the four interventions were evaluated separately in subfertile and fertile men.
RESULT(S): Subfertile men demonstrated a significant 74% increase in total normal sperm count and a minor increase of 4% abnormal spermatozoa. A similar trend was observed in fertile men. Pre-intervention concentrations of folate and zinc in blood and seminal plasma did not significantly differ between fertile and subfertile men.
CONCLUSION(S): Total normal sperm count increases after combined zinc sulfate and folic acid treatment in both subfertile and fertile men. Although the beneficial effect on fertility remains to be established, this finding opens avenues of future fertility research and treatment and may affect public health.
研究叶酸和硫酸锌治疗对生育能力正常和生育能力低下男性精液指标的影响。
双盲、安慰剂对照干预研究。
荷兰的两家门诊生育诊所和九家助产机构。
108名生育能力正常的男性和103名生育能力低下的男性。
两组均被随机分配接受四种治疗之一，为期26周：叶酸和安慰剂、硫酸锌和安慰剂、硫酸锌和叶酸、两种安慰剂。叶酸的日剂量为5毫克，硫酸锌的日剂量为66毫克。
治疗前后，按照世界卫生组织指南采集标准化精液和血液样本，测定精子浓度、活力和形态；按照严格标准测定精液形态；测定血液叶酸和锌浓度。分别评估四种干预措施对生育能力低下和生育能力正常男性的影响。
生育能力低下的男性总正常精子数显著增加74%，异常精子略有增加4%。生育能力正常的男性也观察到类似趋势。生育能力正常和生育能力低下的男性干预前血液和精浆中叶酸和锌的浓度无显著差异。
硫酸锌和叶酸联合治疗后，生育能力低下和生育能力正常的男性总正常精子数均增加。尽管对生育能力的有益影响尚待确定，但这一发现为未来的生育研究和治疗开辟了道路，可能会影响公共卫生。
