Male infertility: decreased levels of selenium, zinc and antioxidants.
In this study, we aimed to compare the level of zinc, selenium, glutathione peroxidase activity and antioxidant status in following populations of men: severe inflammation in prostate (>10(6) white blood cells in prostate secretion; n=29), severe leukocytospermia, (>10(6) white blood cells in semen; n=31), mild inflammation, (0.2-1M white blood cells in semen or prostate secretion; n=24), non-inflammatory oligozoospermia (n=32) and healthy controls (n=27). Male partners of infertile couples had reduced level of antioxidative activity, selenium and zinc in their seminal plasma. Most importantly, reduced selenium levels were evident in all patient groups regardless of inflammation status. Therefore, these patients might gain some benefit from selenium supplementation.
Department of Microbiology, University of Tartu, Estonia. Electronic address: silver-turk@mail.ee.
Silver
S
Türk
Department of Microbiology, University of Tartu, Estonia.
Reet
R
Mändar
Department of Biochemistry, University of Tartu, Estonia.
Riina
R
Mahlapuu
Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Tallinn, Estonia.
Anu
A
Viitak
Andrology Centre, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia.
Margus
M
Punab
Department of Biochemistry, University of Tartu, Estonia.
Tiiu
T
Kullisaar
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000097:blood; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
D000975:Antioxidants; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc
Antioxidants; Infertility; Oligozoospermia; Selenium; Zinc