Flavonoid dihydroquercetin and its prospects fof use in idiopathic male infertility

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Abstract

Introduction. The primary pathogenetic mechanism underlying idiopathic male infertility, which accounts for up to 60% of all cases of male infertility, is oxidative stress. However, the effectiveness of therapy for this category of infertility remains low, highlighting the need to identify promising and highly effective antioxidants. One of the most potent antioxidants produced on an industrial scale in Russia, but still insufficiently studied in the context of male infertility treatment, is dihydroquercetin.

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of dihydroquercetin on oxidative metabolism parameters in men with idiopathic infertility and to explore its potential applications.

Material and methods. The object of the study was a dietary supplement (DS) based on dihydroquercetin. The study included 28 men diagnosed with idiopathic infertility and elevated oxidative stress levels. All participants received 60 mg of dihydroquercetin twice daily for 90 days. Semen parameters, including morphology assessed by Kruger’s strict criteria, were evaluated before the therapy and every 30 days during the 3-month treatment period. Additionally, oxidative metabolism markers in seminal plasma and blood serum were measured before the treatment and after 3 months of dihydroquercetin administration, with the oxidative stress index (OSI) calculated.

Results. After 3 months of dihydroquercetin administration, the proportion of progressively motile sperm increased by 46.6%, and the percentage of sperm with normal morphology rose by 34.5%. The therapeutic regimen effectively reduced lipid peroxidation products (LPO) in seminal fluid: levels of dienic conjugates (DC233) decreased by 33.6%, and malonic dialdehyde (MDA) dropped by 25%. Total antioxidant activity (TAA) increased 1.5-fold. In blood serum, levels of lipid peroxides and parameters of the antioxidant defense system (ADS), except for thiol status (TS), returned to reference values. TS levels increased but did not reach the minimum normal threshold. After 90 days of dihydroquercetin treatment, the mean OSI decreased by 2.4 times. A key achievement of the treatment was the occurrence of spontaneous pregnancies in 10 men who participated in the study.

Conclusions. Dihydroquercetin is a promising dietary supplement for the treatment of idiopathic male infertility.

About the authors

O. S. Belik

Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug-Ugra "District Clinical Hospital"

Author for correspondence.
Email: belik.o.s@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0006-7835-7685
SPIN-code: 1896-3936

Urologist, Laboratory of Assisted Reproductive Technologies of the Women's Consultation of the Perinatal Center 

Russian Federation, 40 Kalinina str., Khanty-Mansiysk, 628012

V. I. Korchin

Khanty-Mansiysk State Medical Academy

Email: vikhmgmi@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1818-7550
SPIN-code: 1430-5770

Dr.Sc. (Med.), Professor, Department of Normal Physiology and Sports Medicine 

Russian Federation, 40 Mira str., Khanty-Mansiysk, 628011

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