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Evaluating the Serum and Seminal Plasma Levels of Zinc and Cadmium in Smokers and Their Relation to the Semen Parameters

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Abstract

Cigarette smoking appears to have adverse effects of male reproductivity. The interplay between zinc and cadmium presumably plays a role in mediating toxic effects of smoking. This work was conducted to study serum and seminal plasma zinc and cadmium level in smokers compared to non-smokers. Seventy males were included: 35 smokers (group I) (smoking ˃20 cigarettes/day with mild smoking index <400) and 35 age-matched non-smokers (group II). Semen analysis was performed according to the WHO laboratory manual 2010. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to detect zinc and cadmium amounts in both blood plasma and semen of any groups. Smoker group showed significantly lower sperm density, motility (P=0.001), and sperm viability (P=0.002) and higher abnormally formed sperms. Seminal zinc level was significantly lower in smokers (P=0.038).There was significant negative correlation between seminal zinc and smoking index and significant positive correlation between seminal zinc levels and sperm motility (P=0.008) and viability percentage (P=0.001). Seminal cadmium level was significantly higher in smoker (P=0.022). Significant positive correlation between seminal cadmium and both age and smoking index (P=0.003) and significant negative correlation between seminal cadmium and sperm density (P=0.005), motility (P=0.047), and viability (P=0.039). Seminal zinc level was negatively correlated to seminal cadmium level (P=0.020). Smoking has deleterious effects on semen quality hence fertility through several toxicants and chemicals. Reduced zinc levels and elevated cadmium levels were evident in smokers which have significant role in the adverse effects on the semen parameters.

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Acknowledgements

We are tremendously grateful to all the healthy volunteers who participated in this study and all the research team.

Before obtaining samples, a written informed consent was received from all the subjects examined and this research was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University; record number:19519DERM41, in alignment with the Helsinki Declaration (World Medical Assembly).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dermatology and Andrology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, 93 Misr wa Elsudan street, Cairo, 11646, Egypt

    Heba A. S. Bazid, Abdalla M. Attia, Amira M. Yousef & Asmaa N. Fawal

  2. Clinical Pathology Department, Medical Research Division, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohammed I. Mostafa

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  1. Heba A. S. Bazid
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  2. Abdalla M. Attia
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Correspondence to Heba A. S. Bazid.

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Bazid, H.A.S., Attia, A.M., Yousef, A.M. et al. Evaluating the Serum and Seminal Plasma Levels of Zinc and Cadmium in Smokers and Their Relation to the Semen Parameters. Biol Trace Elem Res 200, 1002–1009 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-021-02720-3

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