Boeri Luca, Passarelli Federica, Basadonna Ludovico Maria, Sorba Edoardo, Graps Giorgio, Ciamarra Fabio, Dagnino Damiano, Parolin Valentina, Nizzardo Marco, Lucignani Gianpaolo, Montanari Emanuele
Department of Urology, IRCCS Fondazione Ca' Granda, Policlinico di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e di Comunità, Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2023-2027, Università degli studi di Milano, 20121 Milan, Italy.
Antioxidants (Basel). 2025 Jun 28;14(7):802. doi: 10.3390/antiox14070802.
Infertility affects 15% of couples, with oxidative stress recognized as a key contributor to male infertility. Night-shift work, through circadian disruption, may exacerbate oxidative imbalance and impair reproductive function. This study investigates the impact of night-shift work on oxidative stress and semen quality and evaluates the potential benefits of antioxidant supplementation in this context. We retrospectively analysed 96 white-European men aged 18-45, seeking fertility assessment at a single academic centre. Participants were classified as day or night workers based on their shift schedule, and all underwent standardised clinical, hormonal, and semen evaluations. Oxidative stress was assessed using the d-ROMs test. A subgroup of 40 patients (20 per group) treated for 3 months with antioxidant supplementation (Drolessano) to evaluate changes in oxidative stress and semen parameters was also considered. Statistical comparisons were performed using non-parametric tests and logistic regression analyses. Night-shift workers exhibit significantly higher oxidative stress levels compared to day workers (median D-ROMs values of 340 vs. 280 U.CARR, = 0.01), and a greater proportion of men exceeding the oxidative stress threshold (74.4% vs. 24.4%, = 0.01). Logistic regression confirmed night-shift work as an independent predictor of elevated oxidative stress (OR 2.1, = 0.001), even after adjusting for age and smoking. Following three months of antioxidant supplementation with Drolessano, both groups experienced significant reductions in oxidative stress (all < 0.01), but night workers showed a substantially greater decrease (mean change -58.5 vs. -15.4 U.CARR, = 0.001). Improvements in semen quality, including sperm concentration, motility, and morphology, were also more pronounced in the night group after treatment. At baseline, night-shift workers had significantly higher oxidative stress than day workers, likely due to circadian disruption. Both groups improved after antioxidant treatment, but night workers showed a greater reduction in D-ROMs. This pilot study might suggest a potential benefit of antioxidant therapy particularly in night workers.
不孕症影响着15%的夫妇，氧化应激被认为是男性不育的关键因素。夜班工作通过扰乱昼夜节律，可能会加剧氧化失衡并损害生殖功能。本研究调查了夜班工作对氧化应激和精液质量的影响，并评估了在这种情况下补充抗氧化剂的潜在益处。我们回顾性分析了96名年龄在18至45岁之间、在单一学术中心寻求生育评估的白种欧洲男性。根据他们的轮班时间表，参与者被分为日班或夜班工作者，所有人都接受了标准化的临床、激素和精液评估。使用d-ROMs测试评估氧化应激。还考虑了一个由40名患者组成的亚组（每组20名），他们接受了3个月的抗氧化剂补充治疗（Drolessano），以评估氧化应激和精液参数的变化。使用非参数检验和逻辑回归分析进行统计比较。与日班工作者相比，夜班工作者表现出显著更高的氧化应激水平（d-ROMs中位数分别为340和280 U.CARR，P = 0.01），并且超过氧化应激阈值的男性比例更高（74.4%对24.4%，P = 0.01）。逻辑回归证实，即使在调整年龄和吸烟因素后，夜班工作仍是氧化应激升高的独立预测因素（OR 2.1，P = 0.001）。在使用Drolessano补充抗氧化剂三个月后，两组的氧化应激均显著降低（所有P < 0.01），但夜班工作者的下降幅度明显更大（平均变化-58.5对-15.4 U.CARR，P = 0.001）。治疗后，夜班组精液质量在精子浓度、活力和形态方面的改善也更为明显。在基线时，夜班工作者的氧化应激显著高于日班工作者，这可能是由于昼夜节律紊乱所致。两组在抗氧化治疗后均有改善，但夜班工作者的d-ROMs下降幅度更大。这项初步研究可能表明抗氧化治疗具有潜在益处，尤其是对夜班工作者。
