P-2: Study The Effect of Oral Zinc Supplementation on Thiol Oxido-Reductive Index in Spermatozoa of Patients with Asthenospermia

Background: There are several causes leading to male infertility, like oxidative stress, and nutritional deficiency of trace elements i.e., selenium and zinc. The Zinc is the following only to iron as the most abundant element in the body. Although, Zinc is found in red meat, white meat, fish, and milk; the World Health Organization (WHO) approximates that one-third of world population is deficient in Zinc. Materials and Methods: Semen samples were obtained from 60 fertile and 60 subfertile men with asthenozoospermia between July 2011 to July 2012, from couples who consulted the infertility clinic of the Babil hospital of maternity (Hilla city/ IRAQ). The subfertile group consist of the patients which treated with zinc sulfate, every participant took two capsules of zinc sulfate per day for three months (each one 220 mg). Semen samples were obtained (before and after zinc sulfate supplementation). After liquefaction seminal fluid at room temperature, routine semen analyses were performed. The levels of reduced thiol (RSH), oxidized thiol (RSSR), thiol oxido-reductive index (RSH/RSSR), sulfhydryl oxidase activity (SHO), and glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx) were determined in the spermatozoa and seminal plasma of patients and healthy groups. Results: Compared with healthy controls, thiol levels were found to significantly decrease in semen of asthenospermic patients. Furthermore while RSSR shows remarkable higher values, RSH/RSSR ratio was significantly lower relative to control. Zinc supplementation elevates reduced thiol to normal value level and thus improves the RSH/RS-SR ratio. GPx activities were found to be lower in seminal plasma of asthenospermic patients. Zinc supplementation elevates GPx activity to normal value. SHO activity was found to be lower in seminal plasma of asthenospermic patients. Zinc supplementation elevates SHO activity in seminal plasma of asthenozoospermic subjects to normal value. Volume of semen, progressive sperm motility percentage, and total normal sperm count were increased after zinc sulfate supplementation. Conclusion: Zinc treatment decreases asthenozoospermia through several mechanisms such as reduction of oxidative stress and apoptosis.