A Study to access the prevalence of zinc abnormalities and the effect of zinc on semen parameters in subfertile population

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between serum zinc levels and semen quality in a subfertile population. STUDY DESIGN: Study was carried out as a cross sectional prospective study at the Infertility unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of medicine, Ragama. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and fifty two male partners of couples who were seeking fertility treatment were recruited after excluding possible confounding factors. A semen sample and a blood sample were obtained from each subject. Semen samples were analyzed according to WHO guidelines and serum level of zinc was estimated using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean daily intake of zinc was assessed by 24 hour dietary recall method. RESULTS: There were twenty one males (13.8 %) with serum zinc deficiency and seven (4.6 %) with serum zinc levels above the normal reference value. The mean serum zinc levels were not significantly different between normal and abnormal groups of individual seminal parameters There was no significant difference of zinc levels between normozoospermics and pathozoospermics, 0.92 Ilg/ml (SD 0.37) vs. 1.01 Ilg/ml (SD 0.35), P = 0.136. There was a weak positive correlation between serum zinc levels and seminal pH (r = 0.167, P < 0.039), but not between zinc levels and other semen parameters. The mean daily zinc intake in the study population was 13.67 mg (SD 1.55). There were no correlations between zinc intake and social aspects (income or educational level) or serum zinc levels. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of serum zinc abnormalities in this population was 18.4 %. There was no significant effect of serum zinc on the quality of semen. Assessment of serum zinc levels may have no advantage in evaluating male fertility.