Antioxidants for female subfertility
Showell MG, Mackenzie-Proctor R, Jordan V, Hart RJ
Published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Methodology
Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials of oral antioxidant supplementation in subfertile women, with live birth and clinical pregnancy as primary outcomes.
Key Findings
Evidence that any single oral antioxidant improves live birth in subfertile women is of low or very low quality; several included trials were later retracted or flagged, though editors judged findings unchanged after their removal.
Conclusions
There is no high-quality evidence that antioxidant supplementation increases live birth rates in subfertile women.
Limitations
Included trials small and at high risk of bias; nine studies subject to retraction or expression of concern.
Supplements Studied
Antioxidants for female subfertility.
low-quality evidence shows no difference in a lower dose of melatonin being associated with an increased live-birth rate compared with higher-dose melatonin (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.41 to 2.15; P = 0.89, I2 = 0%; 2 RCTs, 140 women)
Low-quality evidence suggests that antioxidants may improve clinical pregnancy rate compared with placebo or no treatment/standard treatment (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.43 to 1.89; P < 0.001, I2 = 63%; 35 RCTs, 5165 women)
Investigators compared oral antioxidants, including: combinations of antioxidants, N-acetylcysteine, melatonin, L-arginine, myo-inositol, carnitine, selenium, vitamin E, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin D+calcium, CoQ10, and omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids versus placebo
Outcomes Measured
Due to the very low-quality of the evidence we are uncertain whether antioxidants improve live birth rate compared with placebo or no treatment/standard treatment (odds ratio (OR) 1.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36 to 2.43; P < 0.001, I2 = 29%; 13 RCTs, 1227 women)
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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Disclosures
Funding
Cochrane/academic
This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.