Vitamins C, E and lipid peroxidation levels in sperm and seminal plasma of asthenoteratozoospermic and normozoospermic men

Background: It has been shown that reactive oxygen species (ROS) can lead to deleterious effects on a range of sperm parameters. Vitamins E and C are capable ofreducing ROS levels and lipid peroxidation. Objective: The aim of study was to determine the level of lipid peroxidation asindicated by Malondialdehyde (MDA) and vitamins E and C in sperm and seminal plasma of asthenoteratozoospermic and normozoospermic men and their relationshipswith semen parameters. Materials and Methods: Forty men with normozoospermic and 60 infertile men with asthenoteratozoospermic semen profiles were randomly selected. Semen analysis wasdone according to the WHO standard. Sex hormonal profiles were measured by ELISAmethods. The level of vitamins (C and E) and MDA were measured by HPLC and tiobarbiotic acid, respectively.Results: MDA concentration in the spermatozoa (0.1±0.06 nmol/ml) and seminalplasma (1.9±0.35 nmol/ml) of asthenoteratozoospermic were significantly higher thanin normozoospermic males (p<0.001).The level of vitamins E and C in seminal plasma of normozoospermic were significantly higher than in asthenoteratozoospermic males(p<0.01). However, the amount of vitamin C in the spermatozoa of normozoospermicwas significantly less than in asthenoteratozoospermic males (p<0.01). Sensitivity,specificity, positive and negative prognostic value of MDA of seminal plasma andspermatozoa were more than vitamins C and E. The level of vitamin C of spermatozoa had more diagnostic value when compare to vitamins C and E in seminal plasma.Conclusion: The level of MDA in seminal plasma and spermatozoa and vitamin C in spermatozoa may be a diagnostic tool for etiology of infertility in the asthenoteratozoospermic patients.

Keywords:

Asthenoteratozoospermia , MDA , Vitamin E , Vitamin C , Lipid peroxidation , Antioxidants activity , Infertility