Oxidative Stress and Male Fertility: Promising Role of Nutraceuticals

Abstract

Oxidative stress is a key detrimental factor in male infertility under pathological or physiological conditions. A balanced oxidation-reduction process regulates the various functions linked to male fertility; however, oxidative stress leads to temporary infertility by affecting the hormonal pattern, sexual behavior, testicular milieu, functioning of accessory sex glands, and sperm quality. Currently, nutraceuticals are a common and popular way to mitigate the male fertility issues of pre-testicular, testicular, and post-testicular etiologies. Nutraceuticals possess multi-nutritional factors that improve metabolic activity, regulating hormonal profile, and sperm production. In addition, the antioxidant property of nutraceuticals agents combats oxidative stress, thus improving the hormonal release pattern, sexual behavior, testicular environment, and sperm quality in males.