Male accessory gland inflammation (MAGI) can impair male fertility through inflammation-driven oxidative stress and direct sperm damage; nutraceutical approaches may be useful when antibiotics are not indicated. Here, we evaluated a 3-month treatment with a Graminex™-based dietary supplement (Deprox-HP) in twenty MAGI patients integrating conventional semen analysis and oxidative stress assessment with sperm proteomics before and after therapy. After treatment, total and progressive sperm motility increased significantly, whereas sperm concentration and sperm morphology showed a non-significant upward trend. Sperm lipid peroxidation decreased markedly, while the antioxidant capacity showed a non-significant increase. Analysis of the sperm proteome demonstrated a clear PRE-POST clustering, consistent with treatment-associated remodeling. POST samples showed upregulation of proteins linked to sperm motility, redox homeostasis, mitochondrial metabolism and membrane remodeling. Two pregnancies occurred during the treatment period; in both cases, lipid peroxidation decreased along with an increase of morphologically typical spermatozoa, and sperm proteomics showed a concordant post-treatment shift enriched in flagellar and mitochondrial respiratory/redox compartments. Moreover, we found a selective enrichment POST treatment in these two patients of TEX50, a crucial protein involved in acrosome/head-stability during epididymal transit. Overall, Deprox-HP was associated with reduced oxidative membrane damage and a coordinated sperm proteomic shift consistent with improved motility.
International journal of molecular sciences. 2026 Mar 09*** epublish ***
Fiorella Di Nicuolo, Alessandro Oliva, Emanuele Pierpaolo Vodola, Michela Cicchinelli, Federica Iavarone, Carla Di Nardo, Edoardo Vergani, Paola Girardi, Francesca Mancini, Alfredo Pontecorvi, Andrea Urbani, Silvia Baroni, Domenico Milardi, Emanuela Teveroni
Unit of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital Foundation IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli, 8, 00168 Rome, Italy., Complex Operative Unit of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.