{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T14:44:49Z","timestamp":1790261089327,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,1]],"date-time":"2025-05-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1746057600000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["lww.com","ovid.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background and Aim:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Oxidative stress (OS) and oxidative DNA damage are significant contributors to male infertility, negatively affecting sperm function and genomic integrity by modulating the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI). Elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels lead to the accumulation of harmful DNA adducts such as 8-hydroxy-2\u2019-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), which can impair fertility and increase cancer risk. Our study intended to investigate the effects of a 12-week yoga intervention on seminal ROS levels, OS marker, sperm quality, and sperm DFI in primary infertile men.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Materials and Methods:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Out of a total of 78 primary infertile men who met the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, 42 participants successfully completed the 12-week yoga intervention. Semen analyses were conducted at pre- and postintervention, as per World Health Organization-21 guidelines (sixth edition), ROS levels were measured by the luminol assay, and 8-OHdG levels were evaluated using ELISA. The sperm DFI was assessed by the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      The 12-week yoga intervention resulted in significant improvements in total sperm count (from 34 to 129 million sperm\/ejaculate) and progressive motility (from 15% to 35%). Seminal ROS levels significantly decreased from 45.3 to 16.5 relative light units (RLU)\/s\/million sperm (\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">P<\/jats:italic>\n                      &lt; 0.001), and 8-OHdG levels decreased from 86.47 to 48.2 ng\/ml (\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">P<\/jats:italic>\n                      &lt; 0.001). A decreasing trend (\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">P<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 0.068) in DFI was observed at postyoga intervention.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Our study revealed that regular yoga practice significantly improves sperm function and reduces OS and DNA damage in infertile men. These findings support yoga as a beneficial adjunct therapy for the management of unexplained male infertility and can potentially enhance fertility outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.4103\/ijoy.ijoy_223_24","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,8]],"date-time":"2025-05-08T13:17:27Z","timestamp":1746710247000},"page":"209-217","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/lww.0000000000001000","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Impact of a 12-week Yoga Intervention on Seminal Oxidative Stress, Sperm Quality, and DNA Fragmentation Index in Infertile Men: A Pre\u2013post Intervention Study"],"prefix":"10.4103","volume":"18","author":[{"given":"Anjali","family":"Yadav","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomy, Lab for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Prabhakar","family":"Tiwari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomy, Lab for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rajeev","family":"Kumar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Urology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rima","family":"Dada","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomy, Lab for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"276","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"R2-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1186\/s12958-015-0032-1","article-title":"A unique view on male infertility around the globe","volume":"13","author":"Agarwal","year":"2015","journal-title":"Reprod Biol Endocrinol"},{"key":"R3-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.4103\/jhrs.JHRS_150_18","article-title":"Role of oxidative stress in male infertility: An updated review","volume":"12","author":"Alahmar","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Hum Reprod Sci"},{"key":"R4-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"412","DOI":"10.5534\/wjmh.200128","article-title":"Sperm DNA fragmentation: A new guideline for clinicians","volume":"38","author":"Agarwal","year":"2020","journal-title":"World J Mens Health"},{"key":"R5-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"356","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-023-45091-6","article-title":"Sperm DNA fragmentation index affect pregnancy outcomes and offspring safety in assisted reproductive technology","volume":"14","author":"Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"R6-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"420","DOI":"10.2741\/s495","article-title":"Oxidative stress: Major executioner in disease pathology, role in sperm DNA damage and preventive strategies","volume":"9","author":"Bisht","year":"2017","journal-title":"Front Biosci (Schol Ed)"},{"key":"R7-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"243","DOI":"10.1093\/humupd\/dmn004","article-title":"Oxidative stress and male infertility \u2013 A clinical perspective","volume":"14","author":"Tremellen","year":"2008","journal-title":"Hum Reprod Update"},{"key":"R8-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"92","DOI":"10.3390\/antiox10010092","article-title":"Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production alters sperm quality","volume":"10","author":"Chianese","year":"2021","journal-title":"Antioxidants (Basel)"},{"key":"R9-20260421","first-page":"354","article-title":"Yoga and meditation as a therapeutic intervention in oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage to paternal genome","volume":"12","author":"Dada","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Yoga Phys Ther"},{"key":"R10-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14026","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms131114026","article-title":"Types, causes, detection and repair of DNA fragmentation in animal and human sperm cells","volume":"13","author":"Gonz\u00e1lez-Mar\u00edn","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"R11-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"539","DOI":"10.3390\/genes15050539","article-title":"Oxidative stress biomarkers in male infertility: Established methodologies and future perspectives","volume":"15","author":"Mottola","year":"2024","journal-title":"Genes (Basel)"},{"key":"R12-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S134","DOI":"10.4103\/ijmr.IJMR_1988_17","article-title":"Meditation and yoga: Impact on oxidative DNA damage and dysregulated sperm transcripts in male partners of couples with recurrent pregnancy loss","volume":"148","author":"Dhawan","year":"2018","journal-title":"Indian J Med Res"},{"key":"R13-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1186\/s12301-023-00377-z","article-title":"Effects of adverse semen parameters on total oxidation status and DNA\/chromatin integrity","volume":"29","author":"Imani","year":"2023","journal-title":"Afr J Urol"},{"key":"R14-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.5214\/ans.0972.7531.260202","article-title":"Yoga: Impact on sperm genome and epigenome \u2013 Clinical consequences","volume":"26","author":"Bisht","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ann Neurosci"},{"key":"R15-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11711","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-62380-w","article-title":"Yoga and its effect on sperm genomic integrity, gene expression, telomere length and perceived quality of life in early pregnancy loss","volume":"14","author":"Dhawan","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"R16-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"470","DOI":"10.1038\/nrurol.2017.69","article-title":"Oxidative stress and male infertility","volume":"14","author":"Bisht","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nat Rev Urol"},{"key":"R18-20260421","first-page":"28","article-title":"Yoga: A natural solution to decrease disease burden in children of MTHFR deficient parents","volume":"174","author":"Borthakur","year":"2023","journal-title":"Clin Ter"},{"key":"R19-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"114","DOI":"10.1177\/09727531211009431","article-title":"Yoga-impact on mitochondrial health: Clinical consequences","volume":"28","author":"Gautam","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ann Neurosci"},{"key":"R20-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.52586\/S553","article-title":"Yoga in major depressive disorder: Molecular mechanisms and clinical utility","volume":"13","author":"Tolahunase","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Biosci (Schol Ed)"},{"key":"R21-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e168","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fertnstert.2018.07.500","article-title":"Impact of yoga based lifestyle intervention on sperm oxidative DNA damage: Study on fathers of non-familial sporadic heritable retinoblastoma patients","volume":"110","author":"Bisht","year":"2018","journal-title":"Fertil Steril"},{"key":"R22-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"145","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0039-1700974","article-title":"8-hydroxy-2\u2019-deoxyguanosine in sperm DNA and increased risk of nonfamilial sporadic heritable retinoblastoma in the child","volume":"9","author":"Bisht","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Pediatr Genet"},{"key":"R23-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"119670","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cca.2024.119670","article-title":"Cancer risk and male infertility: Unravelling predictive biomarkers and prognostic indicators","volume":"558","author":"Tiwari","year":"2024","journal-title":"Clin Chim Acta"},{"key":"R24-20260421","first-page":"62","article-title":"Male infertility an early biomarker of cancer: The possible causes and impact of yoga","volume":"11","author":"Yadav","year":"2023","journal-title":"Andrology"},{"key":"R25-20260421","first-page":"e55566","article-title":"Integrative yoga and Ayurveda approach to oligoasthenozoospermia: A holistic case study on fertility enhancement","volume":"16","author":"Gade","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"R26-20260421","first-page":"e54095","article-title":"Improving semen quality in a male partner with abnormal seminal parameters through yoga and yoga nidra: A case report","volume":"16","author":"Jadhav","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"R27-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"509","DOI":"10.4172\/2165-7920.1000509","article-title":"Improvement in sperm DNA quality following simple lifestyle intervention: A study in fathers of children with non-familial sporadic heritable retinoblastoma","volume":"5","author":"Kumar","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Clin Case Rep"},{"key":"R28-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"69","DOI":"10.1007\/s10815-006-9022-8","article-title":"The effects of sperm quality on embryo development after intracytoplasmic sperm injection","volume":"23","author":"Loutradi","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Assist Reprod Genet"},{"key":"R29-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1253","DOI":"10.5713\/ab.21.0072","article-title":"Semen evaluation: Methodological advancements in sperm quality-specific fertility assessment \u2013 A review","volume":"34","author":"Tanga","year":"2021","journal-title":"Anim Biosci"},{"key":"R30-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"373041","DOI":"10.1155\/2015\/373041","article-title":"Effects of yoga on utero-fetal-placental circulation in high-risk pregnancy: A randomized controlled trial","volume":"2015","author":"Rakhshani","year":"2015","journal-title":"Adv Prev Med"},{"key":"R31-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1115","DOI":"10.1007\/s10815-014-0280-6","article-title":"A multi-faceted approach to understanding male infertility: Gene mutations, molecular defects and assisted reproductive techniques (ART)","volume":"31","author":"Tahmasbpour","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Assist Reprod Genet"},{"key":"R32-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"152927","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tox.2021.152927","article-title":"Health repercussions of environmental exposure to lead: Methylation perspective","volume":"461","author":"Shiek","year":"2021","journal-title":"Toxicology"},{"key":"R33-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e13551","DOI":"10.1111\/and.13551","article-title":"Sperm methylome alterations following yoga-based lifestyle intervention in patients of primary male infertility: A pilot study","volume":"52","author":"Bisht","year":"2020","journal-title":"Andrologia"},{"key":"R34-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"180","DOI":"10.4103\/ijoy.ijoy_174_23","article-title":"Long-term add-on yoga therapy modulates oxidative stress pathway and offers clinical benefits in major depressive disorder: A randomized controlled trial","volume":"16","author":"Talukdar","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Yoga"},{"key":"R35-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111","DOI":"10.3390\/antiox9020111","article-title":"The importance of oxidative stress in determining the functionality of mammalian spermatozoa: A two-edged sword","volume":"9","author":"Aitken","year":"2020","journal-title":"Antioxidants (Basel)"},{"key":"R36-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4015874","DOI":"10.1155\/2017\/4015874","article-title":"Molecular mechanisms responsible for increased vulnerability of the ageing oocyte to oxidative damage","volume":"2017","author":"Mihalas","year":"2017","journal-title":"Oxid Med Cell Longev"},{"key":"R37-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1769","DOI":"10.3390\/medicina59101769","article-title":"Oxidative stress and male infertility: The protective role of antioxidants","volume":"59","author":"Kaltsas","year":"2023","journal-title":"Medicina (Kaunas)"},{"key":"R38-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.4103\/ijoy.ijoy_40_24","article-title":"Effect of yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation program on endothelial function, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers in acute myocardial infarction: A randomized controlled trial","volume":"17","author":"Patil","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Yoga"},{"key":"R39-20260421","first-page":"41","article-title":"Impact of yoga based mind-body intervention on systemic inflammatory markers and co-morbid depression in active Rheumatoid arthritis patients: A randomized controlled trial","volume":"37","author":"Gautam","year":"2019","journal-title":"Restor Neurol Neurosci"},{"key":"R40-20260421","first-page":"4517","article-title":"Oxidative stress induced damage to paternal genome and impact of meditation and yoga \u2013 Can it reduce incidence of childhood cancer?","volume":"17","author":"Rima","year":"2016","journal-title":"Asian Pac J Cancer Prev"},{"key":"R41-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"491","DOI":"10.3122\/jabfm.18.6.491","article-title":"Risk indices associated with the insulin resistance syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and possible protection with yoga: A systematic review","volume":"18","author":"Innes","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Am Board Fam Pract"},{"key":"R42-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.4103\/ijoy.ijoy_127_23","article-title":"COVID-19-induced stress in health-care workers: Effect of 8-week common yoga protocol on autonomic function and inflammatory and oxidative stress markers","volume":"16","author":"Sharma","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Yoga"},{"key":"R43-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"87","DOI":"10.4103\/0973-6131.113391","article-title":"Male reproductive health and yoga","volume":"6","author":"Sengupta","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int J Yoga"},{"key":"R44-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"66","DOI":"10.5214\/ans.0972.7531.260206","article-title":"Impact of yoga based lifestyle intervention on psychological stress and quality of life in the parents of children with retinoblastoma","volume":"26","author":"Bisht","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ann Neurosci"},{"key":"R45-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.1177\/2156587214557695","article-title":"Effects of a classroom-based yoga intervention on cortisol and behavior in second- and third-grade students: A pilot study","volume":"20","author":"Butzer","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med"},{"key":"R46-20260421","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"558","DOI":"10.1037\/ccp0000091","article-title":"Heated hatha yoga to target cortisol reactivity to stress and affective eating in women at risk for obesity-related illnesses: A randomized controlled trial","volume":"84","author":"Hopkins","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Consult Clin Psychol"},{"key":"R47-20260421","first-page":"423","article-title":"Yoga- and meditation-based lifestyle intervention increases neuroplasticity and reduces severity of major depressive disorder: A randomized controlled trial","volume":"36","author":"Tolahunase","year":"2018","journal-title":"Restor Neurol Neurosci"},{"key":"R48-20260421","first-page":"741","article-title":"Meditation enhances brain oxygenation, upregulates BDNF and improves quality of life in patients with primary open angle glaucoma: A randomized controlled trial","volume":"36","author":"Gagrani","year":"2018","journal-title":"Restor Neurol Neurosci"}],"container-title":["International Journal of Yoga"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ovid.com\/10.4103\/ijoy.ijoy_223_24","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T18:52:50Z","timestamp":1786647170000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ovid.com\/10.4103\/ijoy.ijoy_223_24"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,5]]},"references-count":46,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4103\/ijoy.ijoy_223_24","relation":{},"ISSN":["0973-6131","2231-2714"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0973-6131","type":"print"},{"value":"2231-2714","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,5]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2024-10-02","name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2025-02-11","name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}]}}