Relationship between serum levels of testosterone, zinc and selenium in infertile males attending fertility clinic in Nnewi, south east Nigeria

Abstract

In the recent years, mal e infertility a n d sub-fertility have increased, which is attributabl e to man y factors. Some trace elements such a s zinc and selenium hav e been shown to play a role in reproduction . T h e study was designed to determin e the serum levels of zinc , selenium and testosterone in infertile male s attending fertility clini c in Nnewi . We investigate d fift y apparently infertil e male s (subjects) a n d twent y apparently healthy fertile male s (controls) betwee n the ages of twenty five and fifty five years. T h e serum levels of zinc and selenium wer e determine d using Atomic Absorptio n Spectrophotomete r whil e the scrum level of testosterone w a s determine d using Enzyme Immunoassay techniques. T h e results showed that there wer e significant difference s in the mea n serum zinc, selenium and testosterone whe n compared between the t wo groups. T h e results als o showe d a strong positive correlation betwee n serum levels of zinc and selenium, a negativ e correlation betwee n serum levels of testosterone a n d zinc , and a strong positive correlation betwee n serum testosterone and selenium in the infertile males. We therefor e conclude that there is a relationship betwee n the serum levels of zinc, selenium and testosteron e in infertil e male s and that thes e parameters b e considere d whe n investigating case s of infertility in males.