Effect of combined calcium, magnesium, vitamin C and E supplementation on seminal parameters and serum oxidative stress markers in fructose-induced diabetic Wistar rats.

CONTEXT

Deleterious effects of diabetes on seminal quality, serum metals and antioxidants have been confirmed.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the effect of combined calcium, magnesium, vitamin C and E supplementation on seminal parameters, serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), nitric oxide (NO), malonyldialdehyde (MDA), calcium and magnesium in fructose-induced diabetic rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty rats were grouped into non-diabetic controls, diabetic controls, diabetic rats given vitamin E + C, calcium + magnesium and vitamin E + C + calcium + magnesium. The analytes were evaluated using standard methods. Statistical significance was set at  < .05.

RESULTS

The diabetic controls had significantly higher MDA ( = .036) but lower ( = .0001) TAC, calcium, magnesium, sperm count, and %motility than the non-diabetic controls. The Vitamin C + E group showed the greatest improvement as they had the highest values of seminal parameters compared to other supplemented groups.

CONCLUSION

Combined Vitamin C + E supplementation may provide better ameliorative benefits than a combination of Vitamin C, E, calcium and magnesium in diabetics.