Ebisch I M W, Thomas C M G, Peters W H M, Braat D D M, Steegers-Theunissen R P M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Hum Reprod Update. 2007 Mar-Apr;13(2):163-74. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dml054. Epub 2006 Nov 11.
Current treatments of subfertile couples are usually empiric, as the true cause of subfertility often remains unknown. Therefore, we outline the role of nutritional and biochemical factors in reproduction and subfertility. A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, Science Direct and bibliographies of published work with both positive and negative results. The studies showed that folate has a role in spermatogenesis. In female reproduction, folate is also important for oocyte quality and maturation, implantation, placentation, fetal growth and organ development. Zinc has also been implicated in testicular development, sperm maturation and testosterone synthesis. In females, zinc plays a role in sexual development, ovulation and the menstrual cycle. Both folate and zinc have antioxidant properties that counteract reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thiols, such as glutathione, balance the levels of ROS produced by spermatozoa and influence DNA compaction and the stability and motility of spermatozoa. Oocyte maturation, ovulation, luteolysis and follicle atresia are also affected by ROS. After fertilization, glutathione is important for sperm nucleus decondensation and pronucleus formation. Folate, zinc, ROS and thiols affect apoptosis, which is important for sperm release, regulation of follicle atresia, degeneration of the corpus luteum and endometrial shedding. Therefore, the concentrations of these nutrients may have substantial effects on reproduction. In conclusion, nutritional and biochemical factors affect biological processes in male and female reproduction. Further research should identify pathways that may lead to improvements in care and treatment of subfertility.
目前对不育夫妇的治疗通常是经验性的，因为不育的真正原因往往仍不清楚。因此，我们概述了营养和生化因素在生殖与不育中的作用。我们使用MEDLINE、科学Direct以及已发表作品的参考文献进行了文献检索，结果有正有负。研究表明，叶酸在精子发生过程中发挥作用。在女性生殖中，叶酸对于卵母细胞质量和成熟、着床、胎盘形成、胎儿生长及器官发育也很重要。锌也与睾丸发育、精子成熟和睾酮合成有关。在女性中，锌在性发育、排卵和月经周期中发挥作用。叶酸和锌都具有抗氧化特性，可对抗活性氧（ROS）。硫醇，如谷胱甘肽，可平衡精子产生的ROS水平，并影响DNA压缩以及精子的稳定性和运动性。卵母细胞成熟、排卵、黄体溶解和卵泡闭锁也受ROS影响。受精后，谷胱甘肽对于精子核去浓缩和原核形成很重要。叶酸、锌、ROS和硫醇会影响细胞凋亡，这对于精子释放、卵泡闭锁调节、黄体退化和子宫内膜脱落很重要。因此，这些营养素的浓度可能对生殖有重大影响。总之，营养和生化因素会影响男性和女性生殖中的生物学过程。进一步的研究应确定可能有助于改善不育护理和治疗的途径。
