Effects of folic acid and zinc sulfate on male factor subfertility: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

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dc.contributor.authorWong W.Y.
dc.contributor.authorMerkus H.M.W.M
dc.contributor.authorThomas C.M.G
dc.contributor.authorMenkveld R.
dc.contributor.authorZielhuis G.A.
dc.contributor.authorSteegers-Theunissen R.P.M
dc.date.accessioned2011-05-15T16:16:26Z
dc.date.available2011-05-15T16:16:26Z
dc.date.issued2002
dc.description.abstractObjective: To study the effects of folic acid and zinc sulfate treatment on semen variables in fertile and subfertile men. Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled interventional study. Setting: Two outpatient fertility clinics and nine midwifery practices in The Netherlands. Participant(s): One hundred eight fertile and 103 subfertile men. Intervention(s): Both groups were randomly assigned to receive one of four treatments for 26 weeks: folic acid and placebo, zinc sulfate and placebo, zinc sulfate and folic acid, and two placebos. Folic acid was given at a daily dose of 5 mg, and zinc sulfate was given at a daily dose of 66 mg. Main Outcome Measure(s): Before and after treatment, standardized semen and blood samples were obtained for determinations of sperm concentration, motility, and morphology according to World Health Organization guidelines; semen morphology according to strict criteria; and blood folate and zinc concentrations. Effects of the four interventions were evaluated separately in subfertile and fertile men. Result(s): Subfertile men demonstrated a significant 74% increase in total normal sperm count and a minor increase of 4% abnormal spermatozoa. A similar trend was observed in fertile men. Preintervention concentrations of folate and zinc in blood and seminal plasma did not significantly differ between fertile and subfertile men. Conclusion(s): Total normal sperm count increases after combined zinc sulfate and folic acid treatment in both subfertile and fertile men. Although the beneficial effect on fertility remains to be established, this finding opens avenues of future fertility research and treatment and may affect public health. Copyright © 2002 American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
dc.description.versionArticle
dc.identifier.citationFertility and Sterility
dc.identifier.citation77
dc.identifier.citation3
dc.identifier.issn00150282
dc.identifier.other10.1016/S0015-0282(01)03229-0
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/13780
dc.subjectfolic acid
dc.subjectplacebo
dc.subjectzinc sulfate
dc.subjectadult
dc.subjectarticle
dc.subjectclinical trial
dc.subjectcontrolled clinical trial
dc.subjectcontrolled study
dc.subjectdouble blind procedure
dc.subjectdrug effect
dc.subjecthuman
dc.subjectmajor clinical study
dc.subjectmale
dc.subjectmale fertility
dc.subjectmale infertility
dc.subjectpriority journal
dc.subjectrandomized controlled trial
dc.subjectspermatozoon count
dc.subjectspermatozoon density
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectDouble-Blind Method
dc.subjectFolic Acid
dc.subjectFollow-Up Studies
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectInfertility, Male
dc.subjectMale
dc.subjectSemen
dc.subjectSperm Count
dc.subjectSperm Motility
dc.subjectStatistics, Nonparametric
dc.subjectZinc Sulfate
dc.titleEffects of folic acid and zinc sulfate on male factor subfertility: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
dc.typeArticle
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