Dietary antioxidants and micronutrient status in varicocele-associated male infertility: oxidative stress-mediated effects on semen quality.

Background: Varicocele causes male infertility through its association with oxidative stress that damages sperm. Dietary antioxidants together with micronutrients help to lower oxidative stress while enhancing sperm production, but their impact on varicocele-related infertility remains to be proven. Methods: The researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of 900 men with varying degrees of varicocele, including 300 with Grade I, 400 with Grade II, and 200 with Grade III. The study collected data on participants' demographics, body measurements, daily habits, food consumption, micronutrient levels, oxidative stress indicators, antioxidant enzyme activity, reproductive hormone levels, semen characteristics, and reproductive success. The study used multiple linear and logistic regression analyses to identify factors affecting sperm concentration and motility, DNA fragmentation, and spontaneous conception. The researchers used standardized beta coefficients to quantify the contribution of each main predictor variable to the results. Results: The negative effects on sperm concentration and motility are attributable to varicocele severity, age, BMI, smoking, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA), which generate DNA fragmentation, thereby establishing statistical significance at Conclusion: Men with varicocele demonstrated impaired sperm quality and reduced fertility potential, which appeared to be associated with increased oxidative stress and alterations in antioxidant status. The findings also suggest that lifestyle and dietary antioxidant intake may play a contributory role in modulating these effects.