About 15% of married couples in Poland have no children. In half of the cases, the problem is related to a male factor. A decrease in male fertility is often caused by disorders in oxidoreductive system equilibrium. One of the causes of deterioration in semen movement parameters is peroxidation of cell membrane lipids by reactive oxygen forms. Antioxidative enzymes, including superoxide dysmutse (SOD), are important defenses of cells against damage by reactive forms of oxygen. The study aims to determine the influence of a diet rich in antioxidants and addictive cigarette smoking on SOD concentration in the plasma of human sperm. We investigated SOD activity in the semen plasma of 18 men with confirmed fertility and 41 patients treated for infertility. Diet and smoking addiction were investigated with a questionnaire. The results were analysed statistically. Comparing SOD activity in the studied groups, we found a statistically significant connection between the enzyme activity and a diet containing a lot of antioxidants. In the group of men with such a diet, SOD activity was from 750 to 910 U/ml, with the average antioxidants level in a diet – 710-870 U/ml; and in other men – 700-790 U/ml. Statistical significance of p < 0.05 was found when comparing the enzyme activity with smoking habit in each group separately, and in both groups together. For 25-75% of subjects, the enzyme activity was 790-900 U/ml in the smoking group, and 88-960 U/ml in the group without addiction.

The studies show that a diet rich in antioxidans accompanies high level of SOD activity, which can favourably influence male fertility, while addiction to smoking lowers SOD activity and male reproductive capacity