L-carnitine is an amino acid that has been shown to be crucial for the formation of healthy, active sperm. Ferulic acid has been shown to improve sperm quality as well. The antioxidants as vitamin C and vitamin E mixed with tocopherols, green tea extract and selenium improve overall reproductive health which help to improve sperm count and quality. Zinc and vitamin B complex (B6, B12, and folate) are critical nutrients in male reproductive system for adequate hormone metabolism, sperm formation and motility. Material and methods: The main aim of the study was to investigate the effect of nutritional blend on sperm quality in 56 male before and after nutritional treatment. Nutritional treatment lasted three mounths. L-carnitine, L-arginine, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, selenium, zincum, glutation and folic acid are basic compounds of nutritional supplements that have been studied. Evaluation of sperm quality was performed according to WHO recommendations for semen analysis (1999). Results: 56 patients were divided into three main groups according to the factor of sterility. The first group represents men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia with total number of sperms under 5 million per mililitre. Patients with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia with total number of sperms over 5 million per mililitre included the second group and the third group included men with asthenoteratozoospermia. The improvement of sperm quality was observed in 12%, 31% and 6% of patients, respectively. The decrease of sperm quality was observed in the second (8%) and the third group (12%). 88% of patients in the first group, 61% of men in the second group and 82% of men in the third group represent men without any change in sperm quality. Conclusions: In conclusion, our results show that nutritional blend has only marginal improvement on sperm quality. It seems that avoidance of stress, enviromental contaminants, smoking, caffeine, drugs and alcohol consumption together (or alone) with nutritional supplementation can enhance sperm production more than nutritional supplementation alone.

GYN FIV Centre of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine Bratislava

3. český a mezinárodní andrologický kongres, Štiřín, 13.-15.6.2008