Effect of seminal or plasma antioxidant levels on seminal parameters in selected sub-fertile male

Abstract

Antioxidants play a significant role in neutralizing oxidative stress, which could cause impairments to the spermatozoa. Various studies have pointed to various conclusions about the effect of antioxidants on seminal quality. Thus, this cross-sectional study was set up to analyze the relationship between the antioxidants and seminal parameters in Sri Lanka from August 2014 to April 2016. The selected sub-fertile population was investigated to gather demographic data and food habits. Eventually, blood and seminal sample (after three days of abstinent from ejaculation) were collected from them. The blood and semen of each subject were analyzed for total antioxidant concentrations, and the semen was further undergone for the seminal analysis. Normal healthy males were selected for the control group. The average total antioxidant levels of the semen (892.49±187.49) and plasma (808.39±423.88) of the test group (n=75) were compared with the same of the control group (semen; 929.58±190.70, plasma; 878.73±426.28) separately and found to have no statistically significant difference in each (p>0.05). Spearman correlation and linear regression analysis were carried out to determine the relationship between plasma and semen antioxidant levels with each seminal parameter of the test group. It was evident that no statistically significant relationship was found in either test for tested variables. Thus, the quality of semen is independent of the seminal or blood level of antioxidants in the experimental group. This could be due to a sufficient level of antioxidants in the body fluids of the study group.