Impact of Vitamin D Supplementation on Semen Quality in Vitamin D-Deficient Infertile Males with Oligoasthenozoospermia.

INTRODUCTION: Male factor contributes to almost 50% cases of infertility. There is evidence of the effect of serum vitamin D on male fertility by helping in spermatozoa maturation and initiating acrosomal reaction. In India, vitamin D deficiency has been documented to be in the range of 50-90% among all the age groups.
OBJECTIVE: To study the levels of vitamin D and the impact of vitamin D supplementation in vitamin D-insufficient/deficient infertile males with oligoasthenozoospermia.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study is a longitudinal observation study. Infertile men with either oligozoospermia or asthenozoospermia with vitamin D levels < 30 ng/ml were enrolled. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation was given, and semen and hormone parameters were assessed at the end of 3 and 6 months. RESULT: There is significant improvement in the mean sperm concentration and progressive sperm motility in infertile males with oligoasthenozoospermia after 6 months of vitamin D supplementation (p value < 0.001). The overall clinical pregnancy rate in the study was 8.33% after vitamin D supplementation (p value 0.24).
CONCLUSION: Vitamin D supplementation plays a crucial role in regulating male fertility. © Federation of Obstetric & Gynecological Societies of India 2019.