ReviewAntioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)2021
The Effect of Antioxidant Supplementation on Operated or Non-Operated Varicocele-Associated Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Review in Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
19 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 28 citations in OpenAlex.
- Human Papillomavirus Across the Reproductive Lifespan: An Integrative Review of Fertility, Pregnancy Outcomes, and Fertility-Sparing Management.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Pooled it
- Flow cytometry sperm apoptosis test can predict sperm DNA fragmentation and can be used as an effective and easy-to-perform screening method for males from infertile couples.Translational andrology and urology · 2026Article
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: A Couple-Based Framework for Integrating Paternal Assessment.Biomedicines · 2026Review
- Adipose-derived stem cells-conditioned medium (ADMSCs-CM) improves testicular function and sperm DNA damage via Nrf2 antioxidant signaling pathways in rat unilateral varicocele.Stem cell research & therapy · 2026Article
- Why Varicoceles Recur: Missed Venous Anatomy and Contemporary Strategies for Salvage.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Global Andrology Forum (GAF) Clinical Guidelines on the Management of Infertile Men with Varicocele.The world journal of men's health · 2026Article
- N-acetylcysteine Improved Expression of FSHR, LHCGR, Catsper-1, Catsper-2, and SF-1 Genes in Testis of Rats with Varicocele.Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) · 2026Article
- Dietary antioxidants and micronutrient status in varicocele-associated male infertility: oxidative stress-mediated effects on semen quality.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
- Evaluation of the effects of multiantioxidant therapy on sperm parameters, reproductive hormones, sperm DNA integrity, and pregnancy rates in infertile men with different grades of varicocele.Clinical and experimental reproductive medicine · 2025Article
- Recent Trends in the Management of Varicocele.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Article
- COVID-19 and Male Infertility: Is There a Role for Antioxidants?Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Diagnostic and therapeutic workup of male infertility: results from a Delphi consensus panel.International journal of impotence research · 2023Article
- Consensus and Diversity in the Management of Varicocele for Male Infertility: Results of a Global Practice Survey and Comparison with Guidelines and Recommendations.The world journal of men's health · 2023Article
- Article
- Comprehensive Analysis of Global Research on Human Varicocele: A Scientometric Approach.The world journal of men's health · 2022Article
- Antioxidants and Male Infertility.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Redox Balance in Male Infertility: Excellence through Moderation-"Μέτρον ἄριστον".Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Review
- Using Data Mining to Assist in Predicting Reproductive Outcomes Following Varicocele Embolization.Journal of clinical medicine · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
12 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
In patients with varicocele-associated infertility, the effect of antioxidant supplementation on fertility is unknown. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore their role in patients with operated or non-operated varicocele. We searched major databases and sources of grey literature until May 2021 (PROSPERO: CRD42021248195). We included 14 studies (980 individuals) in the systematic review. Of the 14 studies, 2 explored the effect of antioxidant supplementation in patients with non-operated varicocele, 1 compared antioxidants versus surgical repair of varicocele, while 11 explored antioxidants after surgical repair of varicocele and were also included in the meta-analysis. Regarding pregnancy rates, no significant differences were demonstrated after treatment with antioxidants versus no treatment at three (OR: 2.28, 95% CI: 0.7-7.48) and six months (OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 0.62-5.72). Accordingly, contradictory findings were reported in sperm concentration, morphology, and motility, as well as DNA fragmentation. Our findings indicate that antioxidant supplementation does not improve pregnancy rates and semen parameters in patients with varicocele-associated infertility, in the absence of previous screening for oxidative stress. Based on the previous notion, most included studies also raised methodological concerns. Therefore, definitive conclusions about the efficacy of antioxidant supplementation in this setting cannot be drawn and further research on the field is mandatory.
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