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Published-Ahead-of-Print February 7, 2007, DOI:10.2164/jandrol.106.001982

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Seminal plasma cobalamin significantly correlates with sperm concentration in males undergoing IVF or ICSI procedures

Jolanda C Boxmeer , Marij Smit , Robertus F Weber , Jan Lindemans , Johannes C Romijn , Marinus J Eijkemans , Nicholas S Macklon , and Regine Patricia Steegers-Theunissen *

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: r.steegers{at}erasmusmc.nl.

A mild hyperhomocysteinemia is caused by B-vitamin deficiencies. We hypothesize that these biochemical derangements detrimentally affect spermatogenesis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the folate, cobalamin, pyridoxine and homocysteine concentrations in blood and seminal plasma, and the associations between these biomarkers and semen parameters in males participating in an IVF or ICSI program. From 73 males (median age (range); 37 (28-53) years) a blood and semen sample was obtained for the determination of serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate, serum total cobalamin, whole blood pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and serum total testosterone. Semen analysis included sperm concentration, motility and morphology according to WHO criteria. The B-vitamins and tHcy concentrations were significantly correlated in blood, but not in seminal plasma. The serum and RBC folate concentrations were significantly correlated also with the total folate concentration in seminal plasma (r = 0.44; p <0.001 and r = 0.39; p <0.001, respectively). Likewise the total cobalamin concentration in serum and seminal plasma was significantly correlated (r = 0.55; p = 0.001). Of interest is that the total cobalamin concentration in seminal plasma was significantly correlated with the sperm concentration (r = 0.42; p < 0.001). This is in contrast to the absence of significant associations between the other vitamins and tHcy in blood and seminal plasma and any of the semen parameters. These findings suggest that folate and cobalamin are transferred from the blood to the male reproductive organs and emphasize the role of cobalamin in spermatogenesis in human.


Key words: Assisted reproduction • Fertility • Semen Analysis • cobalamin • folate • homocysteine






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