Improvement in Sperm DNA Quality Following Simple Life Style Intervention: A Study in Fathers of Children with Non-Familial Sporadic Heritable Retinoblastoma

Abstract

Introduction and objectives: Genomic integrity of gametes is important for birth of healthy offspring. As compared to ova the sperm is more susceptible to mutation due to limited DNA damage detection and repair mechanism. Life style habits adopted by father before conception may adversely affect genomic DNA integrity in male gametes. Oxidative stress damages sperm nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Complementary and alternative medical therapies such as yoga/meditation are being increasingly used as adjuncts to modern medicine in treatment of several clinical conditions. Therefore, in this pilot study, we analyzed the effects of yoga and meditation on seminal oxidative stress and sperm DNA integrity in fathers of children with non-familial sporadic heritable retinoblastoma (Rb) after intervention (3 and 6 months). Methods: A total of 10 men (father of children with sporadic non-familial Rb) were recruited in this study. Semen samples were collected at base line (day 0), 3 months and after 6 months of yoga practice. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels were estimated at day 0.3 months and 6 months interval. Results: There was reduction in mean DFI levels [p>0.05] at 3 months and 6 months [p 0.05] 6 months [p<0.05] with respect to the base line levels (day 0). Conclusions: Yoga/meditation significantly lowers oxidative stress and oxidative nuclear DNA damage, and levels of the mutagenic base 8OHdG. Thus yoga and meditation are simple life style interventions which are therapeutic for maintaining/restoring sperm DNA integrity