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Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Background/aim: Infertility impacts around 15% of couples worldwide, with male factors accounting for approximately 50% of cases. Despite this significant share, male infertility remains understudied, particularly in developing nations such as Pakistan. The present study explores the association between male infertility and seminal plasma concentrations of oxidative stress markers, inhibin B, and vitamin D, along with their relationship with sperm parameters.

Materials and methods: The dataset of the study consisted of seminal plasma levels from 30 fertile and 60 infertile males. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Vitamin D, malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), lipid peroxide (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and inhibin B levels were assessed using ELISA kits and the data were analyzed using SPSS (v.23) software. Descriptive statistics for quantitative variables were reported as mean ± standard deviation. Correlations among parameters were assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation test. In all analyses, p-values of < 0.05 were considered significant, and < 0.001 as highly significant.

Results: Fertile males exhibited higher vitamin D and TAC levels than the infertile males (p-values = 0.00 and < 0.01, respectively). In contrast, higher MDA and 4-HNE levels were observed in infertile males (p-value = 0.00). No statistically significant relationship was identified between the inhibin B and LPO values of the two groups.

Conclusion: Elevated oxidative stress markers (MDA, 4-HNE) and reduced vitamin D and TAC levels were associated with infertility in the sample. The dual role of SOD in oxidative stress regulation warrants further investigation to determine the thresholds at which sperm integrity is affected. Vitamin D may play a critical function in spermatogenesis, though its exact mechanisms require further exploration. These findings underscore the role of oxidative stress and nutritional factors in fertility, and highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve reproductive outcomes.

Author ORCID Identifier

MUHAMMAD TAYYAB IHSAN: 0000-0002-4930-4799

AYESHA ALI MALICK: 0000-0003-4527-4753

SHER KHAN: 0000-0001-6511-7611

MUHAMMAD TAHIR KHAN: 0009-0000-8626-3239

HAQ NAWAZ KHAN: 0000-0002-3289-3128

REHANA REHMAN: 0000-0001-9730-5553

DOI

10.55730/1300-0144.6217

Keywords

Male Infertility, oxidative stress, Vitamin D

First Page

828

Last Page

837

Publisher

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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