The association between serum vitamin D level and sperm parameters; A pilot study in a subset of Iranian infertile males

Abstract

Introduction: Male-factor infertility affects about 7 of males in the general population. Vitamin D deficiency has been reported as an important public health issue all around the world and plays an important role in male fertility. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between serum levels of vitamin D and sperm parameters. Patient and Methods: We conducted this pilot cross-sectional study among infertile males who referred to Khanevadeh Specialty Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. A researcher-made checklist was used to collect data on basic characteristics of patients. Serum vitamin D level as well as sperm parameters (comprising sperm concentration, volume, vitality, total motility, progressive motility and abnormal morphology), DNA fragmentation and chromatin maturity were assessed according to standard protocols. Subjects with a serum vitamin D level of >= 30 ng/mL and 20-29 ng/mL were categorized as vitamin D sufficient and insufficient groups respectively. Results: According to our results, sperm parameters except for sperm volume were significantly different between two groups (P < 0.05). There was a positive significant correlation between sperm concentration, vitality, progressive motility and total motility with serum levels of vitamin D (P < 0.05). A negative significant correlation was observed between sperm abnormal morphology, DNA fragmentation and chromatin immaturity with serum levels of vitamin D (P < 0.05). We did not find any significant correlation between sperm volume and serum levels of vitamin D among infertile males (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The results of the current study showed that low vitamin D levels can be considered as a potential risk factor for male infertility among the Iranian population. Further large-scale studies are warranted to determine the association between male infertility with serum vitamin D level and underlying mechanisms.