Probiotics Outperform Antioxidants in Improving Semen Parameters of Men with Idiopathic Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Significant Time×Group interactions were found for sperm concentration, motility, and morphology, but not for semen volume.

• Sperm concentration interaction: P=0.003
• Sperm motility interaction: P<0.001
• Sperm morphology interaction: P<0.001
• Semen volume interaction: P=0.71 (not significant)
• Analysis used linear mixed-effects models with fixed effects for time, group, and their interaction, with Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise tests

After 3 months, the probiotic group showed significantly greater improvements in sperm concentration compared to the placebo group.

• Sperm concentration improvement in probiotic group: 10.42±1.11×10⁶/mL
• Comparison to placebo: P=0.007
• 110 men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia were included in the final analysis
• Mean age of participants was 34.3±4.5 years
• Probiotic used was Familact®, administered daily for 3 months

After 3 months, the probiotic group showed significantly greater improvements in sperm motility compared to the placebo group.

• Sperm motility in probiotic group: 46.65±3.73%
• Comparison to placebo: P=0.001
• Probiotics also outperformed antioxidants in motility: P=0.009
• Antioxidant used was Sperigen®, administered daily for 3 months
• Sperm parameters were analyzed using computer-assisted semen analysis

After 3 months, the probiotic group showed significantly greater improvements in sperm morphology compared to both the placebo and antioxidant groups.

• Sperm morphology in probiotic group: 4.31±0.21%
• Comparison to placebo: P<0.001
• Probiotics outperformed antioxidants in morphology: P<0.001
• This is described as the first study to directly compare probiotics and antioxidants in treating idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia

The trial was a triple-blind, randomized controlled design conducted across two academic centers in Iran over approximately nine months.

• Study conducted from July 2021 to April 2022
• Two academic centers in Iran: Isfahan and Yazd
• 110 men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia were randomly assigned to three groups: probiotic (Familact®), antioxidant (Sperigen®), or placebo
• Treatment duration was 3 months daily administration
• Trial Registration Number: IRCT20150420021869N5