Mild oxidative stress is beneficial for sperm telomere length maintenance

Table 1 Comparison of semen parameters and age of infertile men and controls

Category	Age (mean ± SD, yr)	SC (mean ± SD)	FM (mean ± SD)	pH (mean ± SD)	Volume (mean ± SD, mL)
Infertile	31.71 ± 4.45	41.5 ± 36.6	44.25 ± 19.94	7.5 ± 0.55	3.04 ± 1.23
n = 112
Controls	32.22 ± 4.0	70.66 ± 57.9	60.14 ± 18.33	7.61 ± 0.38	2.96 ± 1.07
n = 102

SC: Sperm count (P = 0.0007); FM: Forward motility (P < 0.0001) (A + B grade in %).

Table 2 Oxidative stress and telomere length

ROS (RLU/s/million sperm), (mean ± SD)	0-21.3 (normal)	21.3-35 (mild)	> 35 (severe)
	RLU/s/million sperm	RLU/s/million sperm	RLU/s/million sperm
Mean telomere length (mean ± SD)	0.663 ± 0.14	0.684 ± 0.12	0.595 ± 0.15
8-IP (pg/mL) (mean ± SD)	282.41 ± 61.97	440.54 ± 23.78	560.66 ± 43.82

ROS: Reactive oxygen species; RLU: Relative light units; 8-IP: 8-Isoprostane.