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The association of a probiotic with a prebiotic (Flortec, Bracco) to improve the quality/quantity of spermatozoa in infertile patients with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia: a pilot study
Author(s) -
Maretti C.,
Cavallini G.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
andrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.947
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 2047-2927
pISSN - 2047-2919
DOI - 10.1111/andr.12336
Subject(s) - luteinizing hormone , prebiotic , azoospermia , infertility , sperm , semen , medicine , follicle stimulating hormone , testosterone (patch) , andrology , prolactin , gynecology , endocrinology , biology , hormone , pregnancy , genetics
Summary The hypothesis that the assumption of a probiotic associated with a prebiotic (Flortec, Bracco; one sachet contains: Lactobacillus paracasei B21060 5 × 10 9 cells + arabinogalctan 1243 mg + oligo‐fructosaccharides 700 mg + l ‐glutamine 500 mg) could improve the quality and quantity of spermatozoa in idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia ( iAOT ) patients to a larger extent than a control substance (starch) was tested. Forty‐one patients with no chromosomal aberrations were randomized into two groups: 20 received Flortec, one sachet per day for 6 months, whereas 21 received the control substance. The following data were collected: clinical history, scrotal Doppler scans, Y microdeletion, karyotype and cystic fibrosis screens, follicle‐stimulating hormone ( FSH ), luteinizing hormone ( LH ), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), and prolactin ( PRL ) levels, and two semen analyses. Both the Flortec and the starch groups underwent two semen analyses and one FSH , LH , T, E2, and PRL measurement in the blood, at the beginning of the study, and after 6 months. The comparisons were carried out using a non‐parametric (Wilcoxon signed rank) test. The side effects were assessed and compared using the chi‐squared test. Group 1 (Flortec) had their sperm count improved: volume of the ejaculate (median from 2.4 to 3.1 mL; p < 0.01), sperm concentration (median: from 15.2 × 10 6 /mL to 28.3 × 10 6 /39 mL; p < 0.01), progressive motility (median: from 16.2 to 42.0%; p < 0.01), and the percentage of typical forms (median: from 7 to 16.3%; p < 0.01); in addition, their FSH , LH , and T levels improved ( p < 0.01), while those of E2 and PRL did not. Group 2 (control substance) had no modification in 42 of the parameters studied. There were no side effects in either group. These data showed that Flortec constitutes a safe therapy for improving the volume of the ejaculate and the quality/quantity of spermatozoa in iOAT patients.