Evaluation of Serum Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D Levels in Infertile Males with Suboptimal Semen Parameters- A Pilot Study from Eastern India

Abstract

Introduction: According to World Health Organization (WHO), infertility is a disease defined by the inability to conceive a child after one year or more of unprotected and regular sexual intercourse. Not only female partner is responsible but male partner related factors play a crucial role in infertility. A key role of vitamin D in male reproductive organs has been suggested. Role of vitamin B12 in spermatogenesis has also been emphasised. Aim: To delineate if there is any significant association between serum vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels with semen parameters among infertile males belonging to the Eastern India. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Biochemistry at Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research and Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, from May 2020 to July 2021. Fifty two infertile males of 25 to 40 years of age, with suboptimal semen parameters (semen volume, sperm count, sperm motility and sperm morphology were considered) were selected. Fasting (12 hours) blood samples were collected for estimation of serum vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels. Significance of association between each parameter with serum vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels was determined using Chi-square test and Fisher’s-exact test. Results were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Low serum vitamin D levels (<20 ng/mL) were detected in 10 (83.33% ) subjects with low semen volume and in 15 (65.21%) With low sperm count. No significant statistical association was found for vitamin D levels with semen volume and sperm count. Among subjects with abnormal sperm motility and morphology, low vitamin D levels were found in 37 (75.51%) and 16 (69.56%), respectively. A significant statistical association was found between vitamin D level and sperm motility (p-value=0.005) but not with sperm morphology. Amongst subjects with low semen volume and low sperm count, low vitamin B12 levels (<200 pg/ mL) were seen in 5 (41.6%) and 15 (65.21%), respectively. A significant statistical association was found between vitamin B12 level and sperm count (p-value=0.003). Among subjects with abnormal sperm motility and morphology, low vitamin B12 levels were present in 19 (38.77%) and 13 (56.52%) and there was a significant association between the variables p-value=0.037 and p-value=0.049, respectively. Conclusion: It can be concluded that vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels in infertile male subjects disturb normal physiological mechanisms required for being fertile. Hence, vitamin B12 and vitamin D supplementation may be suggested for improvement of semen quality