Effect of metformin therapy and dietary supplements on semen parameters in hyperinsulinaemic males

Abstract

SummaryPrevious reports indicated that hyperinsulinaemic men may exhibit a higher percentage of poorly compacted DNA in their spermatozoa and less success in an IVF programme (Andrologia, 45, 2003, 18; Andrologia, 2014 Andrologia, , doi: 10.1111. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of metformin (Glucophage ® ) and antioxidant treatment (StaminoGro ® ) on the semen parameters of hyperinsulinaemic men. Nineteen hyperinsulinaemic male patients were treated for 3 months with metformin alone (Group A), and fifteen patients used metformin in combination with the nutritional supplement (Group B). Combined data of the two groups (pre-and post-treatment) differ significantly regarding sperm morphology (P = 0.0003) and CMA 3 (P < 0.0001) values. The improvement in sperm morphology after treatment was similar for the two respective groups (P < 0.05). The morphological normal sperm forms increased from the mean percentage of 3.9 to 5.5% and from 4.2 to 5.5% for Group A and B respectively. Where a combination of metformin and the supplement were used (Group B), the combination treatment proved to be superior in obtaining enhanced chromatin packaging quality although not statistically significant (P = 0.5929) when compared with the metformin (Group A) group. The chromatin packaging quality in Group B improved with 10% while the improvement in Group A was approximately 8.3%. Therefore, infertile hyperinsulinaemic men can benefit from metformin treatment and should be advised on the use of nutritional supplements with antioxidant properties.

Metformin Ameliorates Testicular Function and Spermatogenesis in Male Mice with High-Fat and High-Cholesterol Diet-Induced Obesity

“…Moreover, testicular morphological injury and reduced sperm function were also noted in the obese mice. Consistent with previous reports [ 42 , 43 , 44 ], upon metformin treatment, the hormone concentrations, integrity of sperm production, maturity of sperm and semen quality were reversed; however, the change in reproductive organ weight was not, which was more likely affected by the body weight gain. Appropriate hormone levels are crucial for male reproductive capacity.…”

Comparative study of sperm motility in Metformin-using and Insulin-dependent diabetics

“…The enhancement of sperm morphology was similar for both groups after treatment, and normal sperm morphology was increased for both groups. Thus, the Bosman et al study showed that infertile hyperinsulinemic men can benefit from metformin treatment and should be advised to use nutritional supplements with antioxidant properties (Bosman et al, 2014).…”

Effect of metformin on semen quality

“…This group showed that administration of metformin at the therapeutic dose improves sperm morphology (from 3.9% to 5.5%) and enhances chromatin packaging quality by about 8.3% (Bosman et al, 2014).…”

“…The clinical study that displays the effect of metformin on sperm parameters was recently conducted by Bosman et al (2014) on hyperinsulinaemic men (Bosman et al, 2014). This group showed that administration of metformin at the therapeutic dose improves sperm morphology (from 3.9% to 5.5%) and enhances chromatin packaging quality by about 8.3% (Bosman et al, 2014).…”

“…Adding metformin at 50 µM to cryopreservation media of mouse semen improved the quality (motility and morphology) of frozen sperm (Bertoldo et al, 2014). A recent study conducted by Nguyen et al (2014) showed that metformin enhances chicken sperm motility and viability, and increases acrosome reaction and lactate production (Nguyen et al, 2014).The clinical study that displays the effect of metformin on sperm parameters was recently conducted by Bosman et al (2014) on hyperinsulinaemic men (Bosman et al, 2014). This group showed that administration of metformin at the therapeutic dose improves sperm morphology (from 3.9% to 5.5%) and enhances chromatin packaging quality by about 8.3% (Bosman et al, 2014).…”