The Influence of Vitamin E and Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Reproductive Health Indices Among Male Workers Exposed to Electromagnetic Fields.

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• Vitamin E and Omega 3 fatty acids have been reported to influence sperm morphology and sperm motility.
• This study reported that the intake of 100 mg of vitamin E accompanied by Omega 3 fatty acids (180 mg eicosatetraenoic acid [EPA] and 120 mg docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) had a significant improvement in sperm morphology and motility after 3 months.
• In addition, this study also reported that electric magnetic fields may have a negative effect on sperm morphology and motility.

Introduction

A block-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to investigate the effects of using vitamin E and Omega 3 fatty acid supplementation on reproductive indices among workers in an automobile parts manufacturing facility. The effect of exposure to electromagnetic fields on certain sex hormones and sperm parameters was also assessed.

Methodology

92 married males between the ages of 20-50 were deployed into 4 groups. The first group was given vitamin E (100 mg) accompanied by a placebo capsule. The second group was given Omega 3 fatty acids (180 mg eicosatetraenoic acid [EPA] and 120 mg docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) accompanied by a placebo capsule. The third group was given vitamin E along with Omega 3 fatty acids. Finally, the fourth group acted as a placebo group and was given 2 placebo capsules.

The semen parameters of the participants were analysed before and after three months of consuming the supplements. Sex hormones within the blood serum were also analysed after the 3-month supplement period. At the endpoint, 80/92 subjects completed the study.

Results

Primary clinical outcomes were:

• Certain demographic parameters had significant effects on sluggish and full sperm motility: age (B = −1.344, p = .034); employment duration (B = −1.863, p = .022); and smoking (B = −94.24, p = .003).
• The difference in the level of testosterone before and after the intervention was not statistically significant for any age group.
• The difference in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) before and after the intervention were not statistically significant for any of the supplement groups.
• There was a statistically significant effect on sperm count and sperm with full motility before and after the intervention in the vitamin E + Omega 3 group, p =.016.
• The effect of supplement use on sperm morphology was significant in the vitamin E + Omega 3 group (B = -4.961; p = .001).
• The effect of supplement use on full and sluggish sperm motility was also significant in the vitamin E + Omega 3 group (B = 72.211, p = .021).

Secondary clinical outcomes were:

• Electric fields had the largest effect on the percentage of immotile sperm amongst the exposure variables (B = 9.541; p = .053).

• Prior studies have reported on the antioxidant effects of vitamin E and the effect of Omega 3 fatty acids on the testicles and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
• This study concluded that participants increased their normal sperm morphology by 16% and their sperm motility by 12% over a 3-month period by supplementing with vitamin E and Omega 3 fatty acids.
• Based on these findings, a practitioner could therefore consider recommending 100 mg of vitamin E accompanied by Omega 3 fatty acids (180 mg eicosatetraenoic acid [EPA] and 120 mg docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) for at least 3 months to help support the reproductive health of their male patients struggling with sperm morphology and/or sperm motility.

• In this study vitamin E and Omega 3 did not show significant effects on certain sex hormones (testorterone, FSH and LH) therefore, there is a need to investigate if a higher dosage or longer consumption of the supplements could make a difference to these outcomes.
• There are mixed findings on the potential effects of electric magnetic fields on male reproductive indices and therefore there is a need for further clinical studies to be done using the same type of frequency, intensity, and exposure protocols to draw further conclusions.