Administration of antioxidants in the infertile male: When may it have a detrimental effect?

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Significant advances in the field of male infertility have been witnessed during the last years. Given the well-known detrimental effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the administration of antioxidants has emerged as a promising solution for oxidative stress (OS)-induced male infertility. Nevertheless, this perception seems largely oversimplified, and the existing literature fails to recognize a notable superiority of the excessive use of these widely available nutritional compounds. Taking into consideration that several trials have shed light on the so-called "antioxidant paradox" phenomenon, we recognize that over-the-counter consumption of such supplements might be harmful. METHOD The relevant studies indexed in PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus databases, published until September 2019 were identified and reported. CONCLUSION In this setting, we acknowledge that there is an eminent need for more elaborate studies in the future which will efficiently elucidate the risks and benefits of antioxidants on semen parameters and their impact on fertility potential.