Influence of trace elements and their correlation with semen quality in fertile and infertile subjects

Authors: VICKRAM SUNDARAM, MUTHUGADHALLI SRINIVAS, JAYARAMAN GURUNATHAN, KAMINI RAO, RAMESH PATHY MANIYAN, SRIDHARAN BALASUNDARAM

Abstract: There has been increasing curiosity about the appraisal of essential trace elements present in human body fluids and their correlation to human health. Human seminal plasma contains several trace elements that have an imperative role in the normal functioning of the semen. As a result, it is very important to evaluate Zn and other trace elements present in the seminal plasma for the assessment of male infertility. The main objective of this research is to evaluate Zn concentrations and their intercorrelations with semen parameters such as sperm concentration, sperm motility, and normal morphology of the sperm, towards their contribution to human fertility. Materials and methods: The concentrations of trace elements such as Zn, Mg, Ca, and Na in human seminal plasma were estimated by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results: Zinc concentration was highly significant in the control samples from fertile subjects when compared with all the categories of semen samples. The concentration of Zn in the seminal plasma positively correlated with sperm concentration, sperm motility, and normal sperm morphology. Conclusion: Alliance of the concentration of Zn in the seminal plasma with the semen quality parameters indicates that Zn could be an indicator for sperm anomalies and male infertility.

Keywords: Zinc, seminal plasma, correlation, atomic absorption spectroscopy, trace elements, fertility

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