Sesame seed oil is a bioactive-rich lipid source, notable for lignans, tocopherols, and unsaturated fatty acids that underpin its antioxidant and cardioprotective properties. This study optimized two innovative, non-thermal extraction techniques—pulsed electric field (PEF) and ultrasound bath-assisted extraction (UBAE)—to maximize yield and preserve oil quality for functional food applications. A blocked definitive screening design combined with response surface methodology modeled the effects of energy power (X₁, 60–100%), liquid-to-solid ratio (X₂, 10–20 mL/g), and extraction time (X₃, 10–30 min) on fat content, DPPH antiradical activity, and oxidative stability indices (Conjugated Dienes, CDs/Conjugated Trienes, CTs). UBAE achieved the highest fat yield—59.0% at low energy (60%), high X₂ (20 mL/g), and short X₃ (10 min)—while PEF maximized DPPH to 36.0 μmol TEAC/kg oil at high energy (100%), moderate X₂ (17 mL/g), and short X₃ (10 min). CDs were minimized to 19.78 mmol/kg (UBAE, 60%, 10 mL/g, 10 min) and CTs to 3.34 mmol/kg (UBAE, 60%, 12 mL/g, 10 min). Partial least squares analysis identified X₂ and X₃ as the most influential variables (VIP > 0.8), with energy–time interplay (X₁ × X₃) being critical for antioxidant capacity. Compared to cold-pressing and Soxhlet extraction, PEF and cold-pressing retained higher antioxidant activity (~19 μmol TEAC/kg) and oxidative stability (TBARS ≤ 0.30 mmol MDAE/kg), while Soxhlet—though yielding 55.65% fat—showed the poorest quality profile (Totox value > 560). Both non-thermal techniques can deliver bioactive-rich sesame oil with lower oxidative degradation, supporting their application in functional foods aimed at improving dietary antioxidant intake and mitigating lipid oxidation burden. PEF at high energy/short time and UBAE at low energy/short time present complementary, scalable options for producing high-value edible oils aligned with human health priorities. As a limitation, we did not directly quantify lignans or tocopherols in this study, and future work will address their measurement and bioaccessibility.

Background/Objectives: Male infertility is a growing public health concern, with lifestyle and dietary factors increasingly recognized as contributors to impaired sperm function. Oxidative stress plays a central role in sperm damage, yet the relationship between seminal antioxidant capacity, dietary antioxidant intake and semen quality remains unclear. This study investigated the association between seminal plasma antioxidant status, sperm quality parameters and dietary antioxidant intake, while accounting for key lifestyle factors. Methods: A total of 105 men (18–55 years) undergoing semen analysis were enrolled. Semen parameters were evaluated according to the WHO guidelines. Seminal plasma antioxidant capacity was assessed using the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and DPPH radical scavenging assays. Dietary antioxidant intake was estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, supplement use) were recorded. Correlations and multivariable regression models were applied to examine associations between antioxidant indices and semen quality. Results: Seminal antioxidant capacity showed wide inter-individual variability (FRAP: 1.6–2171.4 μmol Trolox eq/L; DPPH: 28.5–3093.2 μmol Trolox eq/L). Dietary antioxidant intake demonstrated very weak correlations with semen parameters (r < 0.20). Regression analyses identified smoking and higher body weight as strong negative predictors of sperm concentration, total count and motility, whereas physical activity was positively associated with morphology and progressive motility. FRAP exhibited a mixed association with motility subtypes, while supplement use was positively associated with vitality. Conclusions: Lifestyle factors—particularly smoking, body weight and physical activity—were stronger determinants of semen quality than dietary antioxidant intake or seminal antioxidant indices. These findings highlight the importance of modifiable behaviors in male reproductive health and suggest that improving lifestyle habits may offer greater benefits than dietary antioxidant intake alone.