Impact of Environmental and Lifestyle Use of Chromium on Male Fertility: Focus on Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress

authors	Pereira, SC; Oliveira, PF; Oliveira, SR; Pereira, MD; Alves, MG
nationality	International
journal	ANTIOXIDANTS
author keywords	trivalent chromium; hexavalent chromium; dietary supplements; antioxidants; male germ cells; fertility
keywords	LOW-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT; PICOLINATE SUPPLEMENTATION; BODY-COMPOSITION; GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE; HUMAN-SPERMATOZOA; TRANSFERRIN RECEPTORS; TRIVALENT CHROMIUM; SPERM CAPACITATION; DIABETES-MELLITUS; BINDING SUBSTANCE
abstract	Male reproductive tissues are strongly susceptible to several environmental and lifestyle stressors. In general, male reproductive health is highly sensitive to oxidative stress, which results in reversible and/or irreversible changes in testosterone-producing cells, spermatogenesis, and sperm quality. Chromium compounds are widely used in the +3 and +6 valence states, as food supplements, and in the industrial field, respectively. Chromium (III) compounds, i.e., Cr(III)-tris-picolinate, [Cr(pic)(3)], known as chromium picolinate, are used as nutritional supplements for the control of diabetes, body weight, and muscular growth. However, previous studies showed that animal models exposed to chromium picolinate experienced degenerative changes in spermatogenesis. Contradictory results are documented in the literature and deserve discussion. Furthermore, the long-term effects of chromium picolinate on the antioxidant system of treated subjects have not been properly studied. Comprehensive studies on the role of this compound will help to establish the safe and useful use of chromium supplementation. On the other hand, chromium (VI) compounds are widely used in several industries, despite being well-known environmental pollutants (i.e., welding fumes). Chromium (VI) is known for its deleterious effects on male reproductive health as toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic. Previous studies have demonstrated severe lesions to mouse spermatogenesis after exposure to chromium (VI). However, workers worldwide are still exposed to hexavalent chromium, particularly in electronics and military industries. Data from the literature pinpoints mechanisms of oxidative stress induced by chromium compounds in somatic and germ cells that lead to apoptosis, thus underlining the impairment of fertility potential. In this review, we analyze the benefits and risks of chromium compounds on male fertility, as well as the mechanisms underlying (in)fertility outcomes. Although supplements with antioxidant properties may maximize male fertility, adverse effects need to be investigated and discussed.
publisher	MDPI
isbn	2076-3921
year published	2021
volume	10
issue	9
digital object identifier (doi)	10.3390/antiox10091365
web of science category	17
subject category	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Chemistry, Medicinal; Food Science & Technology
unique article identifier	WOS:000699125100001