Vitamin A and β-Carotene Content of Seminal Fluid and Sperm of Normospermic and Oligozoospermic Men

Abstract

β-carotene and vitamin A were estimated in 125 specimens of human seminal fluid and spermatozoa. In 72 of the specimens triiodothyronine, tetraiodothyronine, and T4-binding globulin were also determined. Vitamin A in seminal fluid increased from 10.4 ± 1.8 μg (SE) in severe oligozoospermia up to 19.1 ± 2.5 μg/100 ml in specimens with high sperm densities. In spermatozoa, however, there was a trend for a decrease in vitamin content from 2.1 ± 0.8 to 0.2 ± 0.07 μg/10⁸. In the majority of cases β-carotene was undetectable and, when present, the levels were much lower than those of vitamin A. The amounts of triiodothyronine and tetraiodothyronine in seminal fluid were 0.19 ± 0.03 ng/ml and 1.1 ± 0.18 μg/100 ml, respectively. No correlation was found between levels of both hormones and the quality of seminal fluid. T4-binding globulin was either very low or undetectable.

Key Words:

• Seminal fluid
• Spermatozoa
• Vitamin A
• β-Carotene
• Triiodothyronine
• Tetraiodothyronine.