Role of Micronutrients in Infertile Males Having Abnormal Semen Parameter

Background: Abnormal semen parameter is the most common cause of infertility in men. Approximately 15% of human couples are infertile and male sub fertility accounts for 50% of cases. About 90% of male factor infertility is idiopathic with no identifiable cause. Affected males has a definite detectable abnormality related to infertility, such as endocrine disease 1-3%, antisperm antibodies 3-13%, varicocele 25.4%, genetic cause 10-15%. A large number of recent studies have focused on the ability of nutraceuticals, to improve the hormonal status and sperm parameters by different mechanisms. Considering the positive effects of micronutrients on sperm motility and count a mixture of micronutrients applied to reverse the sperm parameters.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of micronutrients regarding improvement of sperm count and motility with abnormal semen parameter.

Methods: It was a prospective observational study. This study was performed in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital for one year. Study population consist of all the diagnosed case of infertile males having abnormal semen parameter between 25 to 50 years of age at DMCH. A total of 100 infertile males with abnormal semen parameter were selected for this study but finally 70 infertile male were included. A full assessment includes demographic information and baseline semen analysis. Then antioxidant was given one tablet in the morning and another at evening for three months and follow up semen analysis was done at prefixed schedule after three months to analysis the changes that was achieved.

Then pre-treatment and post treatment semen parameters, including sperm count and sperm motility were assessed. Statistical analyses were carried out by using the statistical package for social sciences version 22.0 for windows (SPSS Ins, Chicago, Illinois, USA).

Main outcome measure(s): Changes in sperm count and motility.

Results: The mean age was 40.5±5.9 years with ranged from 25 to 50 years. The Mean sperm count was found 12.34±1.84 mill/mL pre-treatment and 15.50±4.69 mill/mL post-treatment which was statistically significant (p<0.05). The mean rapid progression was found 28.84±20.77 pre-treatment and 47.44±25.02 post-treatment which was statistically significant (p<0.05). The mean non-progressive sperm was found 40.34±21.12 percent before treatment and 28.32±15.47 percent after treatment which was significantly decreased after micronutrient therapy (p<0.05). The improvement of semen parameters after treatment was 72.86%.

Conclusion: Majority of the male patients suffer from infertility due to Oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia. Advance age, smoking and industrial workers were more common. Sperm count, sperm motility and rapid progression had significantly improved after three months of treatment. Therefore, this study suggests that micronutrients can be helpful to improve the sperm count and motility of infertile male having abnormal semen parameter.