Background: Asthenozoospermia is considered one of the most prevalent causes of male infertility. In asthenozoospermia cases where enough suitable sperm cannot be provided for assisted reproductive technology or where it is impossible to collect fresh semen from the men on the day of assisted reproductive technology for any reason, cryopreservation can help to recover sperm and oocyte at the same time. Cryopreservation of human semen increases reactive oxygen species, leading to oxidative damage to the sperm. Therefore, adding an antioxidant to the freezing medium could be useful. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a short-chain fatty acid, and mitochondrial compound considered a potent antioxidant. ALA contributes to recycling other antioxidants, such as vitamin C and glutathione. Objective: This study aims to assess the effect of ALA supplementation on sperm biochemical parameters during cryopreservation in asthenozoospermia men. Materials and Methods: Thirty semen samples were collected from asthenozoospermic patients referred to the infertility treatment center of Qom University Jihad from July to December 2021. Each sample was divided equally into 3 groups: control (fresh), freeze (treated with cryo-protectant alone), and freeze+ ALA (treated with cryo-protectant + 0.5 mM ALA solution). In the freezing groups, samples were cryopreserved with human sperm freezing medium and rapid freezing method. In each sample, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the level of sperm antioxidants, including catalase, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase, and the level of sperm malondialdehyde (MDA) were investigated. Results: There was a significant decrease in the mean levels of sperm antioxidants in the freeze group compared to the control counterpart (p < 0.001). At the same time, there was a significant increase in the mean sperm levels of MDA (p < 0.001). Moreover, in the freeze+ ALA group, the mean levels of antioxidants increased significantly (p < 0.001), while the mean levels of MDA decreased significantly compared to the Freeze group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Given our findings, ALA ameliorates the adverse effects of cryopreservation on sperm quality in asthenozoospermic men by reducing reactive oxygen species production and preventing its undesired effects on sperm function by increasing sperm antioxidants, and reducing MDA levels.
