The role of micronutrients in male and female fertility: A review study

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Professor, Department of Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

2 Associated Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

3 Instructor, Department of Midwifery, Social Research and Health Promotion Center, Faculty of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.

4 Instructor, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Islamic Azad University, Kerman Branch, Kerman, Iran.

5 PhD Student of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Instructor, Department of Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical

6 PhD Student of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Fertility means the ability to have a child that is one of the causes of family formation. Several factors can affect fertility. Micronutrients are essential for the body's anabolic and catabolic activities, so they may be effective factors on fertility. Therefore, this study was conducted with aim to determine the role of micronutrients in male and female fertility.
Methods: In this review study, the Persian databases of Magiran, SID and the English databases of Pubmed, Scopus, SID, Elsevier, Web Of Sciences and the Google Scholar search engine were searched using the English keywords of Infertility, fertility Infertility, Fertility, Male Infertility, Semen, Semen Parameters, Systematic Review, Clinical Trial, Case-Control, Female Infertility, Micronutrients, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Antioxidants, Folic Acid, Zinc and their Persian equivalents in the period of 1990-2020. Numerous quantitative and qualitative studies that were similar to the present study in terms of content were selected and evaluated.
Results: Among 1052 articles, 22 studies which were more related to the aim of the present study were selected and evaluated. The results of reviewing the studies showed that the consumption of micronutrients including vitamins D, E, C, A, zinc, iodine, selenium, folate and omega-3 fatty acids can play a role in improving male and female fertility parameters. Deficiency of each of them has been seen in infertile men and women.
Conclusion: Since nutrition has moved towards ready meals and lifestyle has moved towards a sedentary life and as a result, the body does not meet the essential needs for basic activities, it seems that the recommendation to consume micronutrients in men and women can prevent many fertility problems and reduce the cost of infertility treatment.

Keywords

References

  1. Direkvand Moghadam A, Delpisheh A, Sayehmiri K. The prevalence of infertility in Iran, a systematic review. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil 2013; 16(81):1-7.
  2. World Health Organization. Infertility definitions and terminology; 2020.
  3. Fritz MA, Speroff L. Clinical gynecologic endocrinology and infertility. lippincott Williams & wilkins; 2012.
  4. Alirezaei S. Effects of infertility on female sexual function. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil 2017; 19(40):91-101.
  5. Bokaie M, Yassini Ardekani SM, Alavi-Majad H. Does infertility influence couples’ relationships? A qualitative study. Journal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences 2017; 6(1):63-77.
  6. Ramakrishnan U, Grant F, Goldenberg T, Zongrone A, Martorell R. Effect of women's nutrition before and during early pregnancy on maternal and infant outcomes: a systematic review. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2012; 26 Suppl 1:285-301.
  7. Schaefer E, Nock D. The Impact of Preconceptional Multiple-Micronutrient Supplementation on Female Fertility. Clin Med Insights Womens Health 2019; 12:1179562X19843868.
  8. Gaskins AJ, Chiu YH, Williams PL, Ford JB, Toth TL, Hauser R, et al. Association between serum folate and vitamin B-12 and outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies. Am J Clin Nutr 2015; 102(4):943-50.
  9. Schmid TE, Eskenazi B, Marchetti F, Young S, Weldon RH, Baumgartner A, et al. Micronutrients intake is associated with improved sperm DNA quality in older men. Fertil Steril 2012; 98(5):1130-7.e1.
  10. Najafipour R, Moghbelinejad S, Aleyasin A, Jalilvand A. Effect of B9 and B12 vitamin intake on semen parameters and fertility of men with MTHFR polymorphisms. Andrology 2017; 5(4):704-710.
  11. Mills JL, Ali M, Buck Louis GM, Kannan K, Weck J, Wan Y, et al. Pregnancy Loss and Iodine Status: The LIFE Prospective Cohort Study. Nutrients 2019; 11(3):534.
  12. Agrawal R, Burt E, Gallagher AM, Butler L, Venkatakrishnan R, Peitsidis P. Prospective randomized trial of multiple micronutrients in subfertile women undergoing ovulation induction: a pilot study. Reprod Biomed Online 2012; 24(1):54-60.
  13. Buhling KJ, Grajecki D. The effect of micronutrient supplements on female fertility. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology 2013; 25(3):173-80.
  14. Schisterman EF, Clemons T, Peterson CM, Johnstone E, Hammoud AO, Lamb D, et al. A Randomized Trial to Evaluate the Effects of Folic Acid and Zinc Supplementation on Male Fertility and Livebirth: Design and Baseline Characteristics. Am J Epidemiol 2020; 189(1):8-26.
  15. Fallah A, Mohammad-Hasani A, Colagar AH. Zinc is an essential element for male fertility: a review of Zn roles in men’s health, germination, sperm quality, and fertilization. Journal of reproduction & infertility 2018; 19(2):69-81.
  16. Paffoni A, Ferrari S, Viganò P, Pagliardini L, Papaleo E, Candiani M, et al. Vitamin D deficiency and infertility: insights from in vitro fertilization cycles. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2014; 99(11):E2372-6.
  17. Henmi H, Endo T, Kitajima Y, Manase K, Hata H, Kudo R. Effects of ascorbic acid supplementation on serum progesterone levels in patients with a luteal phase defect. Fertil Steril 2003; 80(2):459-61.
  18. Fanaei H, Khayat S, Halvaei I, Ramezani V, Azizi Y, Kasaeian A, et al. Effects of ascorbic acid on sperm motility, viability, acrosome reaction and DNA integrity in teratozoospermic samples. Iran J Reprod Med 2014; 12(2):103-10.
  19. Sharifzadeh F, Norouzi S, Ashrafi M, Aminimoghaddam S, Koohpayezadeh J. Effects of Zinc Sulfate on Subfertility Related to Male Factors: A Prospective Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Cancer Research 2016; 1(2).
  20. Cyrus A, Kabir A, Goodarzi D, Moghimi M. The effect of adjuvant vitamin C after varicocele surgery on sperm quality and quantity in infertile men: a double blind placebo controlled clinical trial. Int Braz J Urol 2015; 41(2):230-8.
  21. Mills JL, Buck Louis GM, Kannan K, Weck J, Wan Y, Maisog J, et al. Delayed conception in women with low-urinary iodine concentrations: a population-based prospective cohort study. Hum Reprod 2018; 33(3):426-433.
  22. Lerchbaum E, Rabe T. Vitamin D and female fertility. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2014; 26(3):145-50.
  23. Ruder EH, Hartman TJ, Reindollar RH, Goldman MB. Female dietary antioxidant intake and time to pregnancy among couples treated for unexplained infertility. Fertil Steril 2014; 101(3):759-66.
  24. Gaskins AJ, Afeiche MC, Wright DL, Toth TL, Williams PL, Gillman MW, et al. Dietary folate and reproductive success among women undergoing assisted reproduction. Obstet Gynecol 2014; 124(4):801-9.
  25. Youssef MA, Abdelmoty HI, Elashmwi HA, Abduljawad EM, Elghamary N, Magdy A, et al. Oral antioxidants supplementation for women with unexplained infertility undergoing ICSI/IVF: randomized controlled trial. Hum Fertil (Camb) 2015; 18(1):38-42.
  26. Safarinejad MR. Effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on semen profile and enzymatic anti-oxidant capacity of seminal plasma in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study. Andrologia 2011; 43(1):38-47.
  27. Buhling KJ, Grajecki D. The effect of micronutrient supplements on female fertility. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2013; 25(3):173-80.
  28. Abdrabo AA, Salim KT, Ali AO, Babiker RA. Assessment of Serum Zn and Cu Levels among Patients with Abnormal Results of Semen Fluid Analysis. East African Scholars J Med Sc. 2019; 2(9):483-487.
  29. Zareba P, Colaci DS, Afeiche M, Gaskins AJ, Jørgensen N, Mendiola J, et al. Semen quality in relation to antioxidant intake in a healthy male population. Fertil Steril 2013; 100(6):1572-9.
  30. Wise LA, Wesselink AK, Tucker KL, Saklani S, Mikkelsen EM, Cueto H, et al. Dietary Fat Intake and Fecundability in 2 Preconception Cohort Studies. Am J Epidemiol 2018; 187(1):60-74.
  31. Derakhshani F, Hosseini SM. Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Effects on Military Forces’ Performance-A Review Study. Journal of Military Medicine 2017; 19(5):410-22.
  32. Cannell JJ, Hollis BW. Use of vitamin D in clinical practice. Alternative medicine review 2008; 13(1):6.
  33. Moukhah S, Siahbazi S, Ahmadi F, Paknahad Z. Review Assessment of Relation Between 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Supplementation on Women Fertility. Iranian Journal of Health Education and Health Promotion 2017; 5(3):147-54.
  34. Malloy PJ, Peng L, Wang J, Feldman D. Interaction of the vitamin D receptor with a vitamin D response element in the Mullerian-inhibiting substance (MIS) promoter: regulation of MIS expression by calcitriol in prostate cancer cells. Endocrinology 2009; 150(4):1580-7.
  35. Parikh G, Varadinova M, Suwandhi P, Araki T, Rosenwaks Z, Poretsky L, et al. Vitamin D regulates steroidogenesis and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) production in human ovarian cells. Horm Metab Res 2010; 42(10):754-7.
  36. Kinuta K, Tanaka H, Moriwake T, Aya K, Kato S, Seino Y. Vitamin D is an important factor in estrogen biosynthesis of both female and male gonads. Endocrinology 2000; 141(4):1317-24.
  37. Blomberg Jensen M, Bjerrum PJ, Jessen TE, Nielsen JE, Joensen UN, Olesen IA, et al. Vitamin D is positively associated with sperm motility and increases intracellular calcium in human spermatozoa. Hum Reprod 2011; 26(6):1307-17.
  38. Aleyasin A, Hosseini MA, Mahdavi A, Safdarian L, Fallahi P, Mohajeri MR, et al. Predictive value of the level of vitamin D in follicular fluid on the outcome of assisted reproductive technology. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2011; 159(1):132-7.
  39. Anifandis GM, Dafopoulos K, Messini CI, Chalvatzas N, Liakos N, Pournaras S, et al. Prognostic value of follicular fluid 25-OH vitamin D and glucose levels in the IVF outcome. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2010; 8:91.
  40. Ghaffari Sardasht F, Keramat A, Irani M. The level of Knowledge and consumption of Folic Acid in pregnancy and pre-conception: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil 2019; 22(2):84-95.
  41. Irani M, Amirian M, Sadeghi R, Lez JL, Latifnejad Roudsari R. The Effect of Folate and Folate Plus Zinc Supplementation on Endocrine Parameters and Sperm Characteristics in Sub-Fertile Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Urol J 2017; 14(5):4069-4078.
  42. Gaskins AJ, Rich-Edwards JW, Hauser R, Williams PL, Gillman MW, Ginsburg ES, et al. Maternal prepregnancy folate intake and risk of spontaneous abortion and stillbirth. Obstet Gynecol 2014; 124(1):23-31.
  43. Viswanathan M, Treiman KA, Kish-Doto J, Middleton JC, Coker-Schwimmer EJ, Nicholson WK. Folic Acid Supplementation for the Prevention of Neural Tube Defects: An Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA 2017; 317(2):190-203.
  44. Irani M, Khadivzadeh T, Asghari Nekah SM, Ebrahimipour H, Tara F. The prevalence of congenital anomalies in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil 2018; 21(Supple):29-41.
  45. Wong WY, Merkus HM, Thomas CM, Menkveld R, Zielhuis GA, Steegers-Theunissen RP. Effects of folic acid and zinc sulfate on male factor subfertility: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Fertil Steril 2002; 77(3):491-8.
  46. Gharagozloo P, Gutiérrez-Adán A, Champroux A, Noblanc A, Kocer A, Calle A, et al. A novel antioxidant formulation designed to treat male infertility associated with oxidative stress: promising preclinical evidence from animal models. Hum Reprod 2016; 31(2):252-62.
  47. Powers SK, Jackson MJ. Exercise-induced oxidative stress: cellular mechanisms and impact on muscle force production. Physiol Rev 2008; 88(4):1243-76.
  48. Arbabian M, Amirzadegan M, Tavalaee M, Nasr-Esfahani MH. Oxidative Stress and Its Effects on Male Infertility: A Review Study. Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences 2018; 17(3):253-74.
  49. Li C, Miao X, Li F, Wang S, Liu Q, Wang Y, et al. Oxidative Stress-Related Mechanisms and Antioxidant Therapy in Diabetic Retinopathy. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2017; 2017:9702820.
  50. Aitken RJ, Roman SD. Antioxidant systems and oxidative stress in the testes. Adv Exp Med Biol 2008; 636:154-71.
  51. Murray AA, Molinek MD, Baker SJ, Kojima FN, Smith MF, Hillier SG, et al. Role of ascorbic acid in promoting follicle integrity and survival in intact mouse ovarian follicles in vitro. Reproduction 2001; 121(1):89-96.
  52. Luck MR, Jeyaseelan I, Scholes RA. Ascorbic acid and fertility. Biology of Reproduction 1995; 52(2):262-6.
  53. Sigman M, Glass S, Campagnone J, Pryor JL. Carnitine for the treatment of idiopathic asthenospermia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Fertil Steril 2006; 85(5):1409-14.
  54. Pietrzik K, Golly I, Loew D. Handbuch Vitamine. Für Prophylaxe. Therapie und Beratung 2008; 1.
  55. Al-Azemi MK, Omu AE, Fatinikun T, Mannazhath N, Abraham S. Factors contributing to gender differences in serum retinol and α-tocopherol in infertile couples. Reproductive biomedicine online 2009; 19(4):583-90.
  56. Rolf C, Cooper TG, Yeung CH, Nieschlag E. Antioxidant treatment of patients with asthenozoospermia or moderate oligoasthenozoospermia with high-dose vitamin C and vitamin E: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Human Reproduction 1999; 14(4):1028-33.
  57. Buhling KJ, Laakmann E. The effect of micronutrient supplements on male fertility. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology 2014; 26(3):199-209.
  58. Paradiso Galatioto G, Gravina GL, Angelozzi G, Sacchetti A, Innominato PF, Pace G, et al. May antioxidant therapy improve sperm parameters of men with persistent oligospermia after retrograde embolization for varicocele? World J Urol 2008; 26(1):97-102.
  59. Mehrabani Natanzi M, Kamalinejad M, Kamali J, Parvari S, Khodaii Z. Effect of Consuming Iodized Salt on Fertility Indices in Male Adult Rats. Alborz University Medical Journal 2017; 6(2):138-44.
  60. Krajewska-Kulak E, Sengupta P. Thyroid function in male infertility. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2013; 4:174.
  61. Shende SS, Mahajan VV, Iyer CM, Ghule SV, Tekade ML. The study of thyroid profile in primary infertile women. Current Research in Medicine and Medical Sciences 2015; 5(2):19-21.
  62. Wagner MS, Wajner SM, Maia AL. The role of thyroid hormone in testicular development and function. J Endocrinol 2008; 199(3):351-65.
  63. Krassas GE, Poppe K, Glinoer D. Thyroid function and human reproductive health. Endocr Rev 2010; 31(5):702-55.
  64. Fekrat F, Shakeri S. Investigation and production of omega 3 oil rich in docosahexaenoic acid by native strain of Aurantiochytrium TA4. Biological Journal of Microorganism 2015; 4(14):9-24.
  65. Gupta A, Barrow CJ, Puri M. Omega-3 biotechnology: Thraustochytrids as a novel source of omega-3 oils. Biotechnology advances 2012; 30(6):1733-45.
  66. Lass A, Belluzzi A. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and IVF treatment. Reprod Biomed Online 2019; 38(1):95-99.
  67. Stanhiser J, Jukic AM, Steiner AZ. Serum omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid concentrations and natural fertility. Human Reproduction 2020; 35(4):950-7.
  68. Favier AE. The role of zinc in reproduction. Biological trace element research 1992; 32(1-3):363-82.
  69. Zago MP, Oteiza PI. The antioxidant properties of zinc: interactions with iron and antioxidants. Free Radical Biology and Medicine 2001; 31(2):266-74.
  70. Ebisch IM, Thomas CM, Peters WH, Braat DD, Steegers-Theunissen RP. The importance of folate, zinc and antioxidants in the pathogenesis and prevention of subfertility. Hum Reprod Update 2007; 13(2):163-74.
  71. Colagar AH, Marzony ET, Chaichi MJ. Zinc levels in seminal plasma are associated with sperm quality in fertile and infertile men. Nutr Res 2009; 29(2):82-8.
The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Volume 24, Issue 1
March 2021
Pages 87-98

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics