Effects of the Reduced Form of Coenzyme Q_(10) (Ubiquinol) on Semen Parameters in Men with Idiopathic Infertility: a Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Randomized Study

摘要

Purpose: We investigated the effects of the administration of ubiquinol (a reduced form of coenzyme Q_(10)) on semen parameters and seminal plasma antioxi-dant capacity in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.Materials and Methods: A total of 228 men with unexplained infertility were randomly assigned 1:1 into 2 groups. Group 1 (114) received 200 mg ubiquinol daily by mouth for 26 weeks and group 2 (114) received a similar regimen of placebo. After completion of the 26-week treatment phase, all participants were followed for another 12-week off-drug period. Primary outcomes were improvement in sperm density, sperm motility and sperm strict morphology.Results: At the end of the 26-week treatment period mean ± SD sperm density in the ubiquinol and placebo groups was 28.7 ± 4.6 X 10~6/ml and 16.8 ± 4.4 X 10~6/ml (p = 0.005), sperm motility was 35.8% ± 2.7% and 25.4% ± 2.1% (p = 0.008), and sperm strict morphology was 17.6% ± 4.4% and 14.8% ± 4.1% (p = 0.01) of normal sperm, respectively. During the treatment period serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels decreased significantly (p = 0.02) and serum inhibin B concentrations increased significantly (p = 0.01). During the off-drug period semen parameters gradually returned to baseline values but the differences were still significant for sperm density (p = 0.03) and sperm motility (p = 0.03). The correlation coefficients analysis revealed a positive association between the duration of treatment with ubiquinol and sperm density (r = 0.74, p = 0.017), sperm motility (r = 0.66, p = 0.024) and sperm morphology (r = 0.57, p = 0.027).Conclusions: Ubiquinol was significantly effective in men with unexplained oligoasthenoteratozoospermia for improving sperm density, sperm motility and sperm morphology.