Comparison of serum vitamin D between fertile and infertile men in a vitamin D deficient endemic area: a case-control study.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to compare serum vitamin D between fertile and infertile men in endemic area of vitamin D deficiency. The role of vitamin D in all aspects of human health has attracted a great interest. Vitamin D effect on female fertility and to a lesser extent in men is under investigation. Previous researchers have found meaningful positive relationship between semen quality and serum vitamin D level. However, in endemic area of vitamin D deficiency, this effect is under question.

METHODS

Serum 25-OH-Vitamin D was compared between infertile male patients and fertile control group.Infertile cases were from patients of our infertility clinic and fertile controls from healthy cases with at least one child below 5 years of age.SPSS version 19 was used for statistical analysis (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Mann-Whitney test).

RESULTS

Between 116 fertile and 114 infertile men who entered the study, serum level of 20 was a critical point, which patients with upper serum level had significantly better spermogram. In addition to it, even in vitamin D deficient patients and controls, fertile controls had higher serum vitamin D.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a positive correlation between serum level of vitamin D and spermogram quality, even in vitamin D deficient areas. Fertile people have a higher level of serum vitamin D in comparison to infertile patient in aforementioned areas.