The relationship between serum and seminal plasma vitamin D and male reproductive function / 医学研究生学报

ABSTRACT

Objective Male infertility accounts for 40 to 50% of the total number of infertility in the world. Among many factors that cause male infertility, vitamin D is considered to be directly related to male fertility. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between serum and seminal plasma vitamin D and male reproductive function, and provide a more comprehensive research direction for studying the specific mechanism of vitamin D on male reproduction. Methods A total of 198 infertile males, receiving andrological examination from June 2017 to January 2018 in the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital (Nanjing, China) was included in our study. Serum and seminal plasma vitamin D levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) kits. The associations between vitamin D and biomarkers of male reproduction were analyzed. Results Serum 25(OH) vitamin D level [26.17(19.61-31.99)ng/mL] was in positive relation with semen volume[3.8(3.1-4.8)ng/mL] (r=0.229,P=0.003). Seminal plasma 25(OH) vitamin D level was not related to serum 25(OH) vitamin D level, but in negative relation with sperm concentration(r=0.174,P=0.016) and positive relation with semen volume(r=0.271,P=0.0001). Serum 25(OH) vitamin D level was in positive relation with seminal plasma fructose concentration(r=0.256,P=0.002), total fructose content (r=0.310,P=0.0002) and total zinc content(r=0.26,P=0.002). The level of serum and seminal plasma vitamin D leve was not related to serum anti-Mullerian hormone(AMH), seminal plasma AMH, serum inhibin (INH B) and seminal plasma INH B(P>0.05). Conclusion Vitamin D is associated with affiliated gland function. The seminal vesicles and prostate produced by semen may be the main source of vitamin D in the male reproductive system.