What is it about?
We investigated the effects of the administration of ubiquinol (a reduced form of coenzyme Q(10)) on semen parameters and seminal plasma antioxidant capacity in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.
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Why is it important?
In a recent study the effects of CoQ10 administration were also shown to be beneficial to the pregnancy rate.8 The 2 forms of CoQ10 are reduced (ubiquinol) (CoQ10H2) and oxidized (ubiquinone) forms. Ubiquinol is a strong lipophilic antioxidant, and can recycle and regenerate other antioxidants such as tocopherol and ascorbate. Decreased serum CoQ10 concentrations as well as a decrease in the CoQ10H2-to-ubiquinone ratio have been demonstrated in diseases associated with OS. A strong correlation among sperm count, motility and ubiquinol-10 levels in seminal fluid has also been reported. In this study, the first on this subject to our knowledge, we determined the effects of the exogenous administration of ubiquinol in the improvement of semen parameters.
Perspectives
Ubiquinol was more effective than CoQ10 in improving sperm count and motility. Sperm density increased more than 2.5-fold with ubiquinol compared to CoQ10. On the other hand, ubiquinol was less effective than CoQ10 in improving sperm morphology. Various medications with various degrees of effectiveness have been used for the treatment of male infertility, including gonadotropin-releasing hormone, gonadotropins, antiestrogens, aromatase inhibitors, a variety of vitamins, nutritional supplements and anti-inflammatory agents. In recent decades interest has increasingly focused on the use of antioxidants to scavenge excessive seminal plasma reactive oxygen species.
Dr Mohammad Reza Safarinejad
University of Medical Sceices
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: 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, The Journal of Urology, August 2012, Wolters Kluwer Health,
DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2012.03.131.
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