Resistance Exercise With Herbal Supplements Improving the Sperm Status of Infertile Men

Background: Infertile men have higher levels of sperm reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to fertile men. The high level of free radicals in semen can disrupt sperm function, damage sperm DNA, and reduce male fertility. We investigated the effect of resistance exercise alone or together with ginger and date palm pollen (DPP) supplements, as well as these two supplements alone, on sperm quality in infertile men with oligoasthenotratospermia (OAT). Methods: This randomized, single-blinded trial was conducted on 48 infertile men with OAT. The volunteers were randomly assigned to 6 groups: Exercise (8 people), DPP (8 people), ginger (8 people), DPP+exercise (8 people), ginger+exercise (8 people) and control (placebo) (n=8). Participants in the ginger and ginger+exercise groups were taken two capsules (250 mg ginger) and also in DPP and DPP+exercise, two capsules (DPP 250 mg) daily for two months. Before and after the treatment, semen and blood samples of the participants were collected. Also, the semen was analyzed according to World Health Organization (WHO) reference value. DNA fragmentation and hormonal profile (luteinizing hormone [LH], follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] and testosterone) were determined by TUNEL and ELISA kit. Results: The sperm motility increased significantly in the supplements alone and supplements with exercise groups compared to before the treatment (DPP: P=0.006; ginger=0.04; DPP+exercise: P=0.001; ginger+exercise: P=0.002). Sperm concentration had a significant increase in the supplement alone and supplements+exercise groups (DPP: P=0.013; ginger=0.005; DPP+exercise: P=0.001; ginger+exercise: P=0.01), while no significant difference was observed in the normal morphology of sperm. The DNA fragmentation index level in all studied groups, except the control group, showed a significant decrease. Also, a significant increase in the levels of the studied hormones was observed in all groups except the control group (DPP: P=0.016 ginger=0.007; DPP+exercise: P=0.025; ginger+exercise: P=0.008 and exercise=0.006). FSH and total testosterone (TT) increased after consuming the DPP or ginger or doing exercise alone or along with supplements. While the increase of LH in all of groups was significant except exercise group and control. Conclusion: Ginger, DPP and exercise have positive effects on the sperm quality of infertile men.