The Journal of Urology
Volume 181, Issue 2 , Pages 741-751 , February 2009

Efficacy of Selenium and/or N-Acetyl-Cysteine for Improving Semen Parameters in Infertile Men: A Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Randomized Study

Received 3 June 2008

References 

  1. Gnoth C, Godehardt E, Frank-Herrmann P, Friol K, Tigges J, Freundl G. Definition and prevalence of subfertility and infertility. Hum Reprod. 2005;20:7
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  3. Surai PF, Blesbois E, Grasseau I, Chalah T, Brillard JP, Wishart GJ, et al. Fatty acid composition, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidant activity of avian semen. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. 1998;120:527
  4. Irvine DS. Glutathione as a treatment for male infertility. Rev Reprod. 1996;1:6
  5. Keskes-Ammar L, Feki-Chakroun N, Rebai T, Sahnoun Z, Ghozzi H, Hammami S, et al. Sperm oxidative stress and the effect of an oral vitamin E and selenium supplement on semen quality in infertile men. Arch Androl. 2003;49:83
  6. Hawkes WC, Turek PJ. Effects of dietary selenium on sperm motility in healthy men. J Androl. 2001;22:764
  7. Gressier B, Cabanis A, Lebeque S, Brunet C, Dine T, Luyckx M, et al. Decrease of hypochlorous acid and hydroxyl radical generated by stimulating human neutrophils: comparison in vitro of some thiol-containing drugs. Methods Exp Clin Pharmacol. 1994;16:9
  8. Erkkilä K, Hirvonen V, Wuokko E, Parvinen M, Dunkel L. N-acetyl-L-cysteine inhibits apoptosis in human male germ cells in vitro. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1998;83:2523–2531
  9. Oeda T, Henkel R, Ohmori H, Schill WB. Scavenging effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine against reactive oxygen species in human semen: a possible therapeutic modality for male factor infertility?. Andrologia. 1997;29:125
  10. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids (A Report of the Panel on Dietary Antioxidants and Related Compounds, Subcommittees on Upper Reference Levels of Nutrients and Interpretation and Uses of Dietary Reference Intakes, and the Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes). Washington, D. C: National Academy Press; 2000;
  11. Shalini S, Bansal MP. Role of selenium in spermatogenesis: differential expression of cjun and cfos in tubular cells of mice testis. Mol Cell Biochem. 2006;292:27–38
  12. Rotruck JT, Pope AL, Ganther HE, Swanson AB, Hafeman DG, Hoekstra WG. Selenium: biochemical role as a component of glutathione peroxidase. Science. 1973;179:588
  13. Hansen JC, Deguchi Y. Selenium and fertility in animals and man—a review. Acta Vet Scand. 1996;37:19
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  15. Tiwary AK, Stegelmeier BL, Panter KE, James LF, Hall JO. Comparative toxicosis of sodium selenite and selenomethionine in lambs. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2006;18:61
  16. Panel on Dietary Antioxidants and Related Compounds, Subcommittees on Upper Reference Levels of Nutrients and Interpretation and uses of Dietary Reference Intakes, and the Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine: Selenium. In: Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium and Carotenoids. Washington, D. C: National Academy of Sciences; 2000;p. 284–324
  17. Forceville X. Seleno-enzymes and seleno-compounds: the two faces of selenium. Crit Care. 2006;10:180
  18. Mayne ST, Wright ME, Cartmel B. Assessment of antioxidant nutrient intake and status for epidemiologic research. J Nutr. 2004;134:3199S
  19. Xu B, Chia S, Tsakok M, Namong C. Trace elements in blood and seminal plasma and their relationship to sperm quality. Reprod Toxicol. 1993;7:613
  20. Toxicological Profile for Selenium. Atlanta: United States Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service; 2003;
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 Study received human ethics committee approval.

PII: S0022-5347(08)02701-8

doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2008.10.015

The Journal of Urology
Volume 181, Issue 2 , Pages 741-751 , February 2009

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