Association of vitamin D status with semen quality and reproductive hormones in Iranian subfertile men.

Although vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common health problems throughout the world, including Iran, conflicting information exists on the potential association between serum vitamin D levels and semen quality. This study intended to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D [25(OH) D3] with semen quality and hormones in Iranian subfertile men. We also compared mean vitamin D and hormone levels in normospermic men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) men. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 278 men who were referred to Royan Infertility Clinic (Tehran, Iran) from March to September 2014. The participants were categorized into two groups; of 186 normospermic and 92 OAT patients according to World Health Organization 2010 criteria. Each participant provided informed consent prior to launching research. Participants completed two general questionnaires of nutritional status. Blood and semen samples were obtained for assessment, and all data were adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), and season. Vitamin D levels were classified according to Institute of Medicine guidelines. Vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and normal levels were observed in 8.6%, 43.6%, 47.8% of participants, respectively. No association was found between daily dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium with sperm parameters. Serum vitamin D was inversely correlated with PTH (p < 0.045). In normospermic men, serum vitamin D levels categorized were not correlated with semen parameters and reproductive hormones (FSH, LH, testosterone(T), and FT), whereas sperm motility showed a positive correlation with vitamin D categorized in OAT men (rs = 0.131, p = 0.028). In conclusion, there was a high incidence of deficiency and insufficiency 25(OH) D Levels (<20ng/ml) observed in Iranian men (52.2%). Moreover, our findings showed a correlation between vitamin D levels and sperm motility in OAT men, which requires further studies.

Alterations in humoral immunity in relatives of patients with common variable immunodeficiency.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been reported that there is a high prevalence of immunodeficiency and autoimmunity in relatives of patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of immunoglobulin deficiency in relatives of patients with CVID in Iran, where there is a high rate of consanguineous marriage. METHODS: A descriptive study was undertaken in 64 family members of 23 unrelated CVID patients. The group contained 17 fathers, 18 mothers, 18 sisters, 9 brothers, and 2 children. Serum immunoglobulin levels were measured by nephelometry. Immunoglobulin (Ig) G subclass levels were measured in a subgroup of 36 individuals. Serum IgA levels were confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for subjects with suspected IgA deficiency. RESULTS: The rate of consanguineous marriage in families containing relatives with antibody deficiencies was significantly higher than in those families in whom relatives did not have immune deficiencies. IgA deficiency was observed in 2 relatives of patients with CVID. Also CVID was observed in 2 family members. In 3 fathers and 1 brother, IgM levels were lower than normal. Three relatives had IgG4 deficiency and 1 person had combined IgG4 and IgG2 deficiency. Twenty percent of the relatives had hypogammaglobulinemia (including IgA deficiency, CVID, decreased levels of IgM, and IgG subclass deficiencies). CONCLUSION: In our study, alteration in humoral immunity in relatives of CVID patients was higher than previously reported, and this could be attributed to the high rate of consanguineous marriage in Iran. Since the family members of CVID patients are at high risk of hypogammaglobulinemia, it is advisable that they be evaluated for immunodeficiency disorders and monitored throughout their lifetimes.

Oral manifestations in selective IgA deficiency.

Selective immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency is the most common of the primary immunodeficiencies with a frequency of 1/300-1/3000, depending on the screened population. As secretory IgA (SIgA) has a protective role in mucosal surfaces from invasion of microorganisms, it is thought that IgA-deficient subjects are susceptible to periodontal diseases and oral manifestations. Previous studies show contradictory results, concerning the involvement of the individuals' periodontium with IgA deficiency. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the oral manifestations in IgA-deficient subjects with controls. Eleven selective IgA-deficient subjects aged 3-18 years with serum IgA levels <10 mg dl(-1) and 11 age-sex-matched healthy children as the controls entered the study. Oral mucosal investigation, dental caries, plaque accumulation and periodontal status were assessed. Serum immunoglobulin levels were measured by single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) method. Saliva immunoglobulins and secretory component levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. IgA-deficient patients had serum and saliva IgA levels less than 10 mg dl(-1) and 10 microg ml(-1), respectively, but other serum immunoglobulin levels were normal and saliva immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels were increased, compared with controls. There were no significant differences in oral manifestations between IgA-deficient subjects and controls, which may be a result of compensatory increase of saliva IgM or other non-immunological defence factors in saliva. Thus, it is not necessary to evaluate IgA and SIgA in all the patients with oral and dental lesions and it is thought that it is better to investigate other factors.