Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine

The Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine (대한생식의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

The relationship of sperm DNA integrity with serum vitamin levels (folate and cobalamin) and food consumption in infertile men

  • Sara Boushaba (Laboratory of Acquired and Constitutional Genetic Diseases (MAGECA), Faculty of Medicine, Batna 2 University) ;
  • Yassine Helis (Ibn Rochd Laboratory of Medical Analysis) ;
  • Rachida Lebaal (Gynecology and Obstetrics Outpatient Clinic) ;
  • Sabah Beldjebel (Gynecology and Obstetrics Outpatient Clinic) ;
  • Ayache Benhamza (Gynecology and Obstetrics Outpatient Clinic) ;
  • Chafia Ziti (Gynecology and Obstetrics Outpatient Clinic) ;
  • Ghania Belaaloui (Laboratory of Acquired and Constitutional Genetic Diseases (MAGECA), Faculty of Medicine, Batna 2 University)
  • Received : 2022.10.15
  • Accepted : 2023.01.05
  • Published : 2023.03.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships of serum folate (vitamin B9), cobalamin (vitamin B12) levels and diet with semen parameters (semen standard parameters [SSP] and DNA fragmentation index [DFI]) in infertile men. Methods: Sperm samples were assessed for SSP and DFI (using the sperm chromatin dispersion test). Serum vitamin concentrations were measured with an immuno-electrochemiluminescence assay, and men completed a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Results: Serum folate levels were positively correlated with sperm progressive motility and DFI. A comparison of SSP between two groups of patients according to serum folate concentration (B9 <4.840 ng/mL and B9 ≥4.840 ng/mL) showed significantly higher sperm concentration and sperm progressive motility in the latter group. However, there was no difference between these groups regarding DFI. Interestingly, serum folate levels were significantly higher in patients with a high DFI (using the cut-offs of 30% or 18%). FFQ data showed that the consumption of fruits and egg yolk correlated positively with sperm concentration and sperm motility, respectively. Conclusion: Serum folate levels showed significant associations with sperm concentration and sperm progressive motility. However, the positive association of serum folate with DFI raises the need for careful prescription of folate supplements.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We thank the entire Ibn Rochd Laboratory staff for their technical assistance, as well as Drs. Habib Madjor and Abdelhamid Benchadi for their help.

References

  1. Sun H, Gong TT, Jiang YT, Zhang S, Zhao YH, Wu QJ. Global, regional, and national prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years for infertility in 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: results from a global burden of disease study, 2017. Aging (Albany NY) 2019;11:10952-91. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.102497
  2. Agarwal A, Mulgund A, Hamada A, Chyatte MR. A unique view on male infertility around the globe. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2015;13:37.
  3. Fainberg J, Kashanian JA. Recent advances in understanding and managing male infertility. F1000Res 2019;8(F1000 Faculty Rev):670.
  4. Gosalvez J, Lopez-Fernandez C, Fernandez JL, Esteves SC, Johnston SD. Unpacking the mysteries of sperm DNA fragmentation: ten frequently asked questions. J Reprod Biotechnol Fertil 2015;4:2058915815594454.
  5. Ebisch IM, Thomas CM, Peters WH, Braat DD, Steegers-Theunissen RP. The importance of folate, zinc and antioxidants in the pathogenesis and prevention of subfertility. Hum Reprod Update 2007;13:163-74. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dml054
  6. Vujkovic M, Ocke MC, van der Spek PJ, Yazdanpanah N, Steegers EA, Steegers-Theunissen RP. Maternal Western dietary patterns and the risk of developing a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate. Obstet Gynecol 2007;110(2 Pt 1):378-84. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.AOG.0000268799.37044.c3
  7. Bassiri F, Tavalaee M, Dattilio M, Nasr-Esfahani MH. Micronutrients in support to the carbon cycle activate antioxidant defences and reduce sperm DNA damage in infertile men attending assisted reproductive technology programs: clinical trial study. Int J Fertil Steril 2020;14:57-62.
  8. Forges T, Monnier-Barbarino P, Alberto JM, Gueant-Rodriguez RM, Daval JL, Gueant JL. Impact of folate and homocysteine metabolism on human reproductive health. Hum Reprod Update 2007;13:225-38. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dml063
  9. Davis RE, Nicol DJ. Folic acid. Int J Biochem 1988;20:133-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-711X(88)90476-4
  10. Selhub J. Folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 and one carbon metabolism. J Nutr Health Aging 2002;6:39-42.
  11. Ebara S. Nutritional role of folate. Congenit Anom (Kyoto) 2017;57:138-41. https://doi.org/10.1111/cga.12233
  12. Green R, Allen LH, Bjorke-Monsen AL, Brito A, Gueant JL, Miller JW, et al. Vitamin B12 deficiency. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2017;3:17040.
  13. World Health Organization. WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen. 5th ed. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010.
  14. Fernandez JL, Muriel L, Rivero MT, Goyanes V, Vazquez R, Alvarez JG. The sperm chromatin dispersion test: a simple method for the determination of sperm DNA fragmentation. J Androl 2003;24:59-66. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1939-4640.2003.tb02641.x
  15. Fernandez JL, Muriel L, Goyanes V, Segrelles E, Gosalvez J, Enciso M, et al. Simple determination of human sperm DNA fragmentation with an improved sperm chromatin dispersion test. Fertil Steril 2005;84:833-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.11.089
  16. National Institute of Public Health (Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica). The epidemiological transition and the health system: TAHINA project. Results of the National Health Survey [Internet]. INSP; 2007 [cited 2023 Jan 14]. Available from: https://www.insp.dz/index.php/Non-categorise/enquetes.html.
  17. Larson KL, DeJonge CJ, Barnes AM, Jost LK, Evenson DP. Sperm chromatin structure assay parameters as predictors of failed pregnancy following assisted reproductive techniques. Hum Reprod 2000;15:1717-22. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/15.8.1717
  18. Velez de la Calle JF, Muller A, Walschaerts M, Clavere JL, Jimenez C, Wittemer C, et al. Sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation as assessed by the sperm chromatin dispersion test in assisted reproductive technology programs: results of a large prospective multicenter study. Fertil Steril 2008;90:1792-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.09.021
  19. Yuan HF, Zhao K, Zang Y, Liu CY, Hu ZY, Wei JJ, et al. Effect of folate deficiency on promoter methylation and gene expression of Esr1, Cav1, and Elavl1, and its influence on spermatogenesis. Oncotarget 2017;8:24130-41. https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.15731
  20. Hoek J, Steegers-Theunissen RP, Willemsen SP, Schoenmakers S. Paternal folate status and sperm quality, pregnancy outcomes, and epigenetics: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Mol Nutr Food Res 2020;64:e1900696.
  21. Crha I, Kralikova M, Melounova J, Ventruba P, Zakova J, Beharka R, et al. Seminal plasma homocysteine, folate and cobalamin in men with obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia. J Assist Reprod Genet 2010;27:533-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-010-9458-8
  22. Wallock LM, Tamura T, Mayr CA, Johnston KE, Ames BN, Jacob RA. Low seminal plasma folate concentrations are associated with low sperm density and count in male smokers and nonsmokers. Fertil Steril 2001;75:252-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(00)01697-6
  23. Boxmeer JC, Smit M, Utomo E, Romijn JC, Eijkemans MJ, Lindemans J, et al. Low folate in seminal plasma is associated with increased sperm DNA damage. Fertil Steril 2009;92:548-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.06.010
  24. Murphy LE, Mills JL, Molloy AM, Qian C, Carter TC, Strevens H, et al. Folate and vitamin B12 in idiopathic male infertility. Asian J Androl 2011;13:856-61. https://doi.org/10.1038/aja.2011.96
  25. Samavat J, Cantini G, Lorubbio M, Degl'Innocenti S, Adaikalakoteswari A, Facchiano E, et al. Seminal but not serum levels of holotranscobalamin are altered in morbid obesity and correlate with semen quality: a pilot single centre study. Nutrients 2019;11:1540.
  26. Banihani SA. Vitamin B12 and semen quality. Biomolecules 2017;7:42.
  27. Terai K, Horie S, Fukuhara S, Miyagawa Y, Kobayashi K, Tsujimura A. Combination therapy with antioxidants improves total motile sperm counts: a preliminary study. Reprod Med Biol 2019;19:89-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.repbio.2018.11.005
  28. Schisterman EF, Sjaarda LA, Clemons T, Carrell DT, Perkins NJ, Johnstone E, et al. Effect of folic acid and zinc supplementation in men on semen quality and live birth among couples undergoing infertility treatment: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2020;323:35-48. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2019.18714
  29. Aarabi M, San Gabriel MC, Chan D, Behan NA, Caron M, Pastinen T, et al. High-dose folic acid supplementation alters the human sperm methylome and is influenced by the MTHFR C677T polymorphism. Hum Mol Genet 2015;24:6301-13. https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddv338
  30. Huang WJ, Lu XL, Li JT, Zhang JM. Effects of folic acid on oligozoospermia with MTHFR polymorphisms in term of seminal parameters, DNA fragmentation, and live birth rate: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Andrology 2020;8:110-6. https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.12652
  31. Steiner AZ, Hansen KR, Barnhart KT, Cedars MI, Legro RS, Diamond MP, et al. The effect of antioxidants on male factor infertility: the Males, Antioxidants, and Infertility (MOXI) randomized clinical trial. Fertil Steril 2020;113:552-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.11.008
  32. Stenqvist A, Oleszczuk K, Leijonhufvud I, Giwercman A. Impact of antioxidant treatment on DNA fragmentation index: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial. Andrology 2018;6:811-6. https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.12547
  33. Majzoub A, Agarwal A. Systematic review of antioxidant types and doses in male infertility: benefits on semen parameters, advanced sperm function, assisted reproduction and live-birth rate. Arab J Urol 2018;16:113-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aju.2017.11.013
  34. Abad C, Amengual MJ, Gosalvez J, Coward K, Hannaoui N, Benet J, et al. Effects of oral antioxidant treatment upon the dynamics of human sperm DNA fragmentation and subpopulations of sperm with highly degraded DNA. Andrologia 2013;45:211-6. https://doi.org/10.1111/and.12003
  35. Gual-Frau J, Abad C, Amengual MJ, Hannaoui N, Checa MA, Ribas-Maynou J, et al. Oral antioxidant treatment partly improves integrity of human sperm DNA in infertile grade I varicocele patients. Hum Fertil (Camb) 2015;18:225-9. https://doi.org/10.3109/14647273.2015.1050462
  36. National Institute of Health; Office of Dietary Supplements. Folate: fact sheet for health professionals [Internet]. NIH; 2022 [cited 2023 Jan 14]. Available from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/#en12.
  37. Wei MM, Gregory JF 3rd. Organic acids in selected foods inhibit intestinal brush border pteroylpolyglutamate hydrolase in vitro: potential mechanism affecting the bioavailability of dietary polyglutamyl folate. J Agric Food Chem 1998;46:211-9. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf970662g
  38. Watanabe F, Bito T. Vitamin B12 sources and microbial interaction. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018;243:148-58. https://doi.org/10.1177/1535370217746612
  39. Najafipour R, Moghbelinejad S, Aleyasin A, Jalilvand A. Effect of B9 and B12 vitamin intake on semen parameters and fertility of men with MTHFR polymorphisms. Andrology 2017;5:704-10. https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.12351
  40. Danielewicz A, Przybylowicz KE, Przybylowicz M. Dietary patterns and poor semen quality risk in men: a cross-sectional study. Nutrients 2018;10:1162.
  41. Jurewicz J, Radwan M, Sobala W, Radwan P, Bochenek M, Hanke W. Dietary patterns and their relationship with semen quality. Am J Mens Health 2018;12:575-83. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988315627139
  42. Salas-Huetos A, Bullo M, Salas-Salvado J. Dietary patterns, foods and nutrients in male fertility parameters and fecundability: a systematic review of observational studies. Hum Reprod Update 2017;23:371-89. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmx006
  43. Liu CY, Chou YC, Chao JC, Hsu CY, Cha TL, Tsao CW. The association between dietary patterns and semen quality in a general asian population of 7282 males. PLoS One 2015;10:e0134224.
  44. Eslamian G, Amirjannati N, Rashidkhani B, Sadeghi MR, Hekmatdoost A. Nutrient patterns and asthenozoospermia: a case-control study. Andrologia 2017;49:e12624.
  45. Chiu YH, Afeiche MC, Gaskins AJ, Williams PL, Petrozza JC, Tanrikut C, et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and their pesticide residues in relation to semen quality among men from a fertility clinic. Hum Reprod 2015;30:1342-51. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dev064
  46. Mebdoua S, Lazali M, Ounane SM, Tellah S, Nabi F, Ounane G. Evaluation of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables from Algeria. Food Addit Contam Part B Surveill 2017;10:91-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/19393210.2016.1278047
  47. Nassan FL, Chavarro JE, Tanrikut C. Diet and men's fertility: does diet affect sperm quality? Fertil Steril 2018;110:570-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.05.025
  48. Afeiche MC, Williams PL, Gaskins AJ, Mendiola J, Jorgensen N, Swan SH, et al. Meat intake and reproductive parameters among young men. Epidemiology 2014;25:323-30. https://doi.org/10.1097/EDE.0000000000000092
  49. Silbernagel SM, Carpenter DO, Gilbert SG, Gochfeld M, Groth E 3rd, Hightower JM, et al. Recognizing and preventing overexposure to methylmercury from fish and seafood consumption: information for physicians. J Toxicol 2011;2011:983072.
  50. Minguez-Alarcon L, Afeiche MC, Williams PL, Arvizu M, Tanrikut C, Amarasiriwardena CJ, et al. Hair mercury (Hg) levels, fish consumption and semen parameters among men attending a fertility center. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2018;221:174-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.10.014
  51. Choy CM, Lam CW, Cheung LT, Briton-Jones CM, Cheung LP, Haines CJ. Infertility, blood mercury concentrations and dietary seafood consumption: a case-control study. BJOG 2002;109:1121-5. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2002.02084.x
  52. Brouwer-Brolsma EM, Dhonukshe-Rutten RA, van Wijngaarden JP, van der Zwaluw NL, van der Velde N, de Groot LC. Dietary sources of vitamin B-12 and their association with vitamin B-12 status markers in healthy older adults in the B-PROOF study. Nutrients 2015;7:7781-97.