16 June 2009 - Up to half of all infertile men could improve their chances of becoming fathers with an antioxidant mineral supplement which also provides benefits for every would-be Dad.

Medical research just published found the supplement produced significant improvements in sperm DNA integrity in a group of men exhibiting oxidative stress, a process in which sperm is attacked by free radicals resulting from lifestyle and environmental factors.

The supplement benefits all men by protecting sperm, helping to ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby.

The results of the research were released today (16 June 2009) for Mens Health Week by Bayer HealthCare, manufacturers of the male pre-conception supplement Menevit® used in the research.

Menevit® goes on sale over-the-counter in pharmacies this month (June), after previously being available only on prescription from IVF specialists.

Bayer New Zealand Consumer Care Brand Manager, Daniela Westphal, said the supplement was for all men seeking to become fathers, not just those undergoing fertility treatment.

"Even the healthiest man is at risk of free radical damage," she said. "Lifestyle factors such as cell phone or laptop use, and stress, can potentially contribute to free radical production."

Menevit® is a once-a-day men's capsule containing vitamins C and E, lycopene, selenium and zinc together with folic acid and garlic oil, recognised antioxidants which work to neutralise oxidative stress and optimise the chances of couples being able to fall pregnant.

Oxidative stress affects up to half of all infertile men" by damaging sperm DNA.

Ozlem Tunc, a PhD researcher in reproductive medicine at the Deparment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, South Australia, reports the results of research using Menevit® in the medical research journal Reproductive BioMedicine Online.

In the study, 50 infertile men were treated for three months with the medicinal supplement Menevit®, an antioxidant preparation shown in a placebo-controlled randomised trial to improve pregnancy rates when used with IVF-ICSI treatment.

After three months treatment, sperm DNA integrity improved significantly, with the median DNA fragmentation level dropping from 22.2% to 18.2%.

Ms Tunc said the study added to a growing body of evidence supporting the use of antioxidant therapy, especially for men undergoing IVF-ICSI treatment. Treatment appeared to reduce miscarriages for ICSI couples to a level similar to fertile couples.

New Zealand IVF specialist Dr Guy Gudex, Medical Director of Repromed Auckland, said a large meta analysis published last year in Human Reproduction showed increased sperm DNA fragmentation doubled the risk of miscarriage.

Patients were now offered both treatment with Menevit and diagnostic TUNEL testing, which measured actual DNA damage, with results available to the specialist and patient the next day.

Dr Gudex said the research to develop and test Menevit was done by Repromed's sister clinic in Adelaide.