Synergistic Protection of L-Arginine and Vitamin E On Lipid Peroxidation of Asthenospermic Patients

Background: Lipid peroxidation is known to cause various impairments to sperm cells and may play a major role in the etiology of male infertility. Asthenospermia is the main factor of male infertility and has significantly higher level of peroxidation than in normozoospermic males. Materials and Methods: Using thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assay procedure, we have determined the level of lipid peroxidation as indicated by malondialdehyde (MDA) in the spermatozoa obtained from asthenospermic male semen. Results: An inverse correlation of MDA concentration with sperm motility is observed. Treatment of cells with L-arginine and vitamin E significantly decreases the MDA concentration and improves the sperm motility as compared to that in case of control samples. A combination of L-arginine and vitamin E shows synergistic effect on sperm motility and prevention of lipid peroxidation. Conclusion: L-arginine and vitamin E protect the cells against the loss of sperm motility by lipid peroxidation. Therefore, supplementation of both L-arginine and vitamin E may improve sperm motility and increase the possibility of fertilization in asthenospermic subjects.