Estimation of folic acid/micro nutrients levels; does it reflect sperm parameters

Authors

Hemaila Tariq, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Nida Zahid, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Daniyal Aamir, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Mussarat Ashraf, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Muddassir Ali Aftab, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Suleman Yousaf, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Rehana Rehman, Aga Khan UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Department

Biological and Biomedical Sciences; General Surgery

Abstract

Objective: To study the impact of vitamin B12, folic acid (FA) and methylmalonic acid (MMA) on sperm parameters; count, motility and morphology leading to male fertility.
Methods: The cross-sectional study comprised of one hundred and eighty-six subjects with normal sperm parameters (fertile) and 88 subjects with abnormal sperm parameters labelled as "infertile" from a sample population of Karachi, Pakistan. Vitamin B12, FA and MMA levels in serum were analysed by enzyme linked immune sorbent assay. Unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratio with their 95% CI were reported by using cox regression algorithm to assess the association of Vitamin B12, FA and MMA and other factors with male Infertility. Unadjusted and adjusted beta coefficients with 95% CI were reported by using linear regression analysis for assessing relationship of Vitamin B12, FA and MMA and other factors with semen parameters (count, motility and morphology); P value of <.05 was considered significant.
Results: It was declared that with every 1 unit increase in vitamin B12, FA and MMA the prevalence of infertility was decreased by 1%, 17% and 74%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that vitamin B12, FA and MMA had a significant association with total sperm count, motility and morphology. The sperm parameters were also affected by increase in; LH, BMI and body fat %. There was a significant positive correlation of; LH with Vitamin B12 and FA (0.423 < 0.001, 0.338 < 0.001) and testosterone with vitamin B12 and FA (0.326 < 0.001, 0.291 < 0.001), respectively.
Conclusion: All the studied micronutrients; Vitamin B12, FA and MMA had a positive effect on sperm parameters; count, motility and morphology and the associated reproductive hormones which explains their role on reproductive functions required to acquire fertility.

Comments

Pagination are not provided by the author/publisher

Publication (Name of Journal)

International Journal of Clinical Practice

Recommended Citation

Tariq, H., Zahid, N., Aamir, D., Ashraf, M., Aftab, M. A., Yousaf, S., Rehman, R. (2021). Estimation of folic acid/micro nutrients levels; does it reflect sperm parameters. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 75(3), e13790.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_mc/216