The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

The effect of myo-inositol containing compounds on sperm parameters and increased fertility in men: A systematic review

Document Type : Review Article

Authors
Dina Abadi Bavil
Fahimeh Tahoonian Golkhatmy
M.Sc. in Midwifery, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
10.22038/ijogi.2024.80839.6125
Abstract
Introduction: Infertility is a global issue referring to the inability to conceive after regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Oxidative stress is among the factors which can lead to inability in sperm production and male infertility. Inositol by reducing oxidative stress can aid in improving male fertility. This systematic review was conducted with aim to investigate the effects of inositol-containing supplements on sperm parameters and enhancing male fertility.
Methods: A systematic search was conducted on databases including Magiran, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, SID, and Google Scholar using Persian and English keywords (infertility, inositol, male fertility, sperm motility, oligoasthenospermia) up to October 2024 with Boolean operators (AND and OR). Articles were selected and evaluated based on inclusion and exclusion criteria through evaluating title, abstract, and full-text.
Results: Out of 23492 identified articles, after reviewing the title and abstract, 192 articles were included in the study and 10 articles were selected for the final analysis. Data from studies conducted between 2015 and 2024, involving 778 participants, showed varied effects of inositol supplements across different categories of infertility. Significant improvements were observed in semen volume, total sperm count, progressive motility, and sperm concentration.
Conclusion: Inositol-containing supplements can be used as a management strategy for male infertility, so that they potentially improve sperm parameters. Further research is necessary to validate these findings and explore underlying mechanisms more comprehensively.
Keywords
Infertility
Inositol
Male fertility
Sperm motility
Subjects
  1. Berek JS. Berek & Novak's Gynecology. 16nd ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW); 2019.
  2. World Health Organization. Infertility prevalence estimates, 1990–2021. World Health Organization; 2023.
  3. Kennedy A, Peterson CM. Transvaginal sonography in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility: Integrating Modern Clinical and Laboratory Practice 2010: 545-65.
  4. Kumar N, Singh AK. Trends of male factor infertility, an important cause of infertility: A review of literature. Journal of human reproductive sciences 2015; 8(4):191-6.
  5. Alqawasmeh O, Fok E, Yim H, Li T, Chung J, Chan D. The microbiome and male infertility: looking into the past to move forward. Human Fertility 2023; 26(3):450-62.
  6. Peivandi S, Khalili Savadkouhi S, Abbasi Z, Zamaniyan M, Gordani N, Moradi S. Effect of Royal Jelly on Sperm parameters and Testosterone levels in infertile men. Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences 2022; 31(206):43-52.
  7. Desai N, Sharma R, Makker K, Sabanegh E, Agarwal A. Physiologic and pathologic levels of reactive oxygen species in neat semen of infertile men. Fertility and sterility 2009; 92(5):1626-31.
  8. Gharagozloo P, Aitken RJ. The role of sperm oxidative stress in male infertility and the significance of oral antioxidant therapy. Human reproduction 2011; 26(7):1628-40.
  9. Governini L, Ponchia R, Artini PG, Casarosa E, Marzi I, Capaldo A, et al. Respiratory mitochondrial efficiency and DNA oxidation in human sperm after in vitro myo-inositol treatment. Journal of Clinical Medicine 2020; 9(6):1638.
  10. Jannatifar R, Parivar K, Nasr-Esfahani MH, Hayati Roodbari N. Evaluation of sperm parameters and oxidative stress level in asthenoteratozoospermia men by N-acetylcysteine treatment; 2020: 27-38.
  11. Nouri M. Correlation between dietary antioxidant intake and sperm parameters in infertile men with oligozoospermia. Qom University of Medical Sciences Journal 2019; 13(5):9-18.
  12. Emekçi Özay Ö, Özay AC, Çağlıyan E, Okyay RE, Gülekli B. Myo-inositol administration positively effects ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a prospective, controlled, randomized trial. Gynecological Endocrinology 2017; 33(7):524-8.
  13. Condorelli RA, Barbagallo F, Calogero AE, Cannarella R, Crafa A, La Vignera S. D-chiro-inositol improves sperm mitochondrial membrane potential: In vitro evidence. Journal of Clinical Medicine 2020; 9(5):1373.
  14. Artini PG, Casarosa E, Carletti E, Monteleone P, Di Noia A, Di Berardino OM. In vitro effect of myo-inositol on sperm motility in normal and oligoasthenospermia patients undergoing in vitro fertilization. Gynecological Endocrinology 2017; 33(2):109-12.
  15. Condorelli RA, La Vignera S, Di Bari F, Unfer V, Calogero AE. Effects of myoinositol on sperm mitochondrial function in-vitro. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2011; 15(2):129-34.
  16. Barker TH, Stone JC, Sears K, Klugar M, Tufanaru C, Leonardi-Bee J, et al. The revised JBI critical appraisal tool for the assessment of risk of bias for randomized controlled trials. JBI evidence synthesis 2023; 21(3):494-506.
  17. Korosi T, Barta C, Rokob K, Torok T. Physiological Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (PICSI) outcomes after oral pretreatment and semen incubation with myo-inositol in oligoasthenoteratozoospermic men: results from a prospective, randomized controlled trial. European Review for Medical & Pharmacological Sciences 2017; 21.
  18. Gulino FA, Leonardi E, Marilli I, Musmeci G, Vitale SG, Leanza V, et al. Effect of treatment with myo-inositol on semen parameters of patients undergoing an IVF cycle: in vivo study. Gynecological Endocrinology 2016; 32(1):65-8.
  19. Calogero AE, Gullo G, La Vignera S, Condorelli RA, Vaiarelli A. Myoinositol improves sperm parameters and serum reproductive hormones in patients with idiopathic infertility: a prospective double‐blind randomized placebo‐controlled study. Andrology 2015; 3(3):491-5.
  20. Dinkova A, Martinov D, Konova E. Efficacy of myo-inositol in the clinical management of patients with asthenozoospermia. European Review for Medical & Pharmacological Sciences 2017; 21.
  21. Canepa P, Dal Lago A, De Leo C, Gallo M, Rizzo C, Licata E, et al. Combined treatment with myo-inositol, alpha-lipoic acid, folic acid and vitamins significantly improves sperm parameters of sub-fertile men: a multi-centric study. European Review for Medical & Pharmacological Sciences 2018; 22(20).
  22. De Leo V, Tosti C, Morgante G, Ponchia R, Luddi A, Governini L, et al. Positive effect of a new combination of antioxidants and natural hormone stimulants for the treatment of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. Journal of clinical medicine 2022; 11(7):1991.
  23. Capece M, Romeo G, Ruffo A, Romis L, Mordente S, Di Lauro G. A phytotherapic approach to reduce sperm DNA fragmentation in patients with male infertility. Urologia Journal 2017; 84(2):79-82.
  24. Santoro M, Aquila S, Russo G. Sperm performance in oligoasthenoteratozoospermic patients is induced by a nutraceuticals mix, containing mainly myo-inositol. Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine 2021; 67(1):50-63.
  25. Montanino Oliva M, Poverini R, Lisi R, Carra MC, Lisi F. Treating Woman with Myo‐Inositol Vaginal Suppositories Improves Partner’s Sperm Motility and Fertility. International Journal of Endocrinology 2016; 2016(1):7621942.
  26. Montanino Oliva M, Buonomo G, Carra MC, Lippa A, Lisi F. Myo-inositol impact on sperm motility in vagina and evaluation of its effects on foetal development. European Review for Medical & Pharmacological Sciences 2020; 24(5).
  27. Barratt CL, Mansell S, Beaton C, Tardif S, Oxenham SK. Diagnostic tools in male infertility—the question of sperm dysfunction. Asian journal of andrology 2011; 13(1):53.
  28. Larner J, Brautigan DL, Thorner MO. D-chiro-inositol glycans in insulin signaling and insulin resistance. Molecular Medicine 2010; 16:543-52.
  29. Colone M, Calcabrini A, Unfer V, Stringaro A. Contribution of electron microscopy to study in vitro inositol effects on human spermatozoa. European Review for Medical & Pharmacological Sciences 2017; 21.
  30. Scarselli F, Lobascio AM, Terribile M, Casciani V, Greco P, Franco G, et al. Analysis of MYO-Inositol effect on spermatozoa motility, in hyper viscous ejaculates and in patients with grades II and III varicocele. Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia 2016; 88(4):279-83.
  31. Ghasemi A, Amjadi F, Mirsaeed SM, Beigi RM, Ghasemi S, Moradi Y, et al. The effect of Myo-inositol on sperm parameters and pregnancy rate in oligoasthenospermic men treated with IUI: A randomized clinical trial. International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine 2019; 17(10):749.
  32. Diaz JR, De Las Cagigas A, Rodriguez R. Micronutrient deficiencies in developing and affluent countries. European journal of clinical nutrition 2003; 57(1):S70-2.
  33. Beemster P, Groenen P, Steegers-Theunissen R. Involvement of inositol in reproduction. Nutrition Reviews 2002; 60(3):80-7.
  34. Ciotta L, Stracquadanio M, Pagano I, Carbonaro A, Palumbo M, Gulino F. Effects of myo-inositol supplementation on oocyte's quality in PCOS patients: a double blind trial. European Review for Medical & Pharmacological Sciences 2011; 15(5).
  35. Liu DY, Clarke GN, Baker HW. Hyper-osmotic condition enhances protein tyrosine phosphorylation and zona pellucida binding capacity of human sperm. Human Reproduction 2006; 21(3):745-52.
  36. Schillaci R, Mangione D, Monte GL, Vassiliadis A. Inositol supplementation and IVF outcome: Preliminary data. Italian J Gynaecol Obstetr 2012; 24(1):38-44.
  37. Condorelli RA, La Vignera S, Mongioì LM, Cimino L, Calogero AE, Vitale S, et al. Myo-inositol as a male fertility molecule: speed them up!. European Review for Medical & Pharmacological Sciences 2017; 21.
  38. Facchinetti F, Unfer V, Dewailly D, Kamenov ZA, Diamanti-Kandarakis E, Laganà AS, et al. Inositols in polycystic ovary syndrome: An overview on the advances. Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism 2020; 31(6):435-47.
  39. Walters KA. Role of androgens in normal and pathological ovarian function. Reproduction 2015; 149(4):R193-218.
  40. Jiang WD, Wu P, Kuang SY, Liu Y, Jiang J, Hu K, et al. Myo-inositol prevents copper-induced oxidative damage and changes in antioxidant capacity in various organs and the enterocytes of juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian). Aquatic Toxicology 2011; 105(3-4):543-51.
  41. Colone M, Marelli G, Unfer V, Bozzuto G, Molinari A, Stringaro A. Inositol activity in oligoasthenoteratospermia– an in vitro study. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2010; 14(10):891-6.
  42. Shang XJ, Wang LL, Mo DS, Cai HC, Zheng DD, Zhou YZ. Effect and safety of L-carnitine in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia: a systemic review. Zhonghua nan ke xue= National Journal of Andrology 2015; 21(1):65-73.
  43. Shulman A, Feldman B, Madgar I, Levron J, Mashiach S, Dor J. In-vitro fertilization treatment for severe male factor: the fertilization potential of immotile spermatozoa obtained by testicular extraction. Human Reproduction 1999; 14(3):749-52.
  44. Kutenaei MA, Teshnizi SH, Ghaemmaghami P, Eini F, Roozbeh N. The effects of myo-inositol vs. metformin on the ovarian function in the polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Review for Medical & Pharmacological Sciences 2021; 25(7).
  45. Abramsson L, Duchek M. Gonadotropins, testosterone and prolactin in men with abnormal semen findings and an evaluation of the hormone profile. International Urology and Nephrology 1989; 21:499-510.
  46. Illingworth PJ, Groome NP, Byrd WI, Rainey WE, McNeilly AS, Mather JP, et al. Inhibin-B: a likely candidate for the physiologically important form of inhibin in men. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 1996; 81(4):1321-5.
  47. Anawalt BD, Bebb RA, Matsumoto AM, Groome NP, Illingworth PJ, McNeilly AS, et al. Serum inhibin B levels reflect Sertoli cell function in normal men and men with testicular dysfunction. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 1996; 81(9):3341-5.
The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Volume 27, Issue 9
November 2024
Pages 81-98