Men's Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
Biometals. 2021 Jun;34(3):439-491. doi: 10.1007/s10534-021-00297-x. Epub 2021 Mar 24.
Infertility is regarded as a global health problem affecting 8-12% of couples. Male factors are regarded as the main cause of infertility in 40% of infertile couples and contribute to this condition in combination with female factors in another 20% of cases. Abnormal sperm parameters such as oligospermia, asthenospermia, and teratozoospermia result in male factor infertility. Several studies have shown the deteriorative impact of heavy metals on sperm parameters and fertility in human subjects or animal models. Other studies have pointed to the role of antioxidants in counteracting the detrimental effects of heavy metals. In the currents study, we summarize the main outcomes of studies that assessed the counteracting impacts of heavy metal and antioxidants on male fertility. Based on the provided data from animal studies, it seems rational to administrate appropriate antioxidants in persons who suffer from abnormal sperm parameters and infertility due to exposure to toxic elements. Yet, further human studies are needed to approve the beneficial effects of these antioxidants.
不孕不育被认为是一个全球性的健康问题，影响着 8-12%的夫妇。男性因素被认为是导致 40%不孕夫妇不孕的主要原因，在另外 20%的病例中，男性因素与女性因素共同导致了这种情况。精子参数异常，如少精症、弱精症和畸形精症，导致男性因素不孕。多项研究表明，重金属对人类或动物模型的精子参数和生育能力有不良影响。其他研究指出了抗氧化剂在对抗重金属有害影响方面的作用。在目前的研究中，我们总结了评估重金属和抗氧化剂对男性生育力的拮抗作用的主要研究结果。根据动物研究提供的数据，对于因接触有毒元素而出现精子参数异常和不孕的患者，合理的做法是给予适当的抗氧化剂。然而，还需要进一步的人体研究来证实这些抗氧化剂的有益作用。
