Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Role of ascorbic acid in human seminal plasma against the oxidative damage to the sperms

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study evaluated the extent of oxidative stress by measuring malondialdehyde and ascorbic acid in the seminal plasma of human subjects with different fertility potential. Semen samples from 148 subjects were evaluated (48 normozoospermics, 34 oligoasthenoteratozoospermics, 34 asthenoteratozoospermics and 32 azoospermics). malondialdehyde level was found to be significantly higher in the abnormal groups (oligoasthenoterato and asthenoterato-zoospermics) than normozoospermics (P < 0.01). Negative correlation was also found between malondialdehyde level, sperm concentration, sperm motility and sperm morphology. Level of ascorbic acid was found to be significantly higher in normozoospermics than other abnormal groups (P < 0.01). It was found to be correlated positively with all seminogram parameters and negatively with malondialdehyde level. The study revealed that, excess lipid peroxidation reflected by high malondialdehyde level with reduced ascorbic acid in human seminal plasma is associated with poor semen quality where as ascorbic acid content has positive correlation with fertility potential.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Halliwell B, Cutteridge JMC. Free radicals, ageing, and disease. In: Free radicals in Biology and Medicine. 2 nded. Oxford University Press. 1989: 123–419.

  2. Sikka Suresh C. Oxidative Stress and role of Antioxidants in Normal and Abnormal Sperm Function. Frontiers in Biosciences 1996; 1: 78–86.

    Google Scholar 

  3. WHO manual for the Standardized investigations, diagnosis and management of infertile couple. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. 2000; 4th Ed: 8–61.

  4. Agarwal A, Prabakaran SA. Mechanism, measurement, and prevention of oxidative stress in male reproductive physiology. Ind J Exp Biol 2005; 43: 963–974.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Yao-Yuan Hsieh, Chi-Chen Chang, Chich- Sheng Lin. Seminal malonaldehyde concentration but not glutathione peroxidase activity is negatively correlated with seminal concentration & motility. Int J Biol-Sci 2006; 2: 23–29.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Suleiman SA, Ali ME, Zaki ZM, el-Malik EM, Nasr MA. Lipid Peroxidation and human sperm motility: protective role of vitamin E. J Androl 1996; 17: 530.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Geva E, Lessing JB, Bartoov B Lerner-Geva L, Zabludovski N, Amit A. The effect of antioxidant treatment on human spermatozoa fertilization rate in an invitro fertilization programme. Fertil Steril 1996; 66: 430–434.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Song GJ, Norkus EP, Lewis V. Relationship between seminal ascorbic acid and sperm DNA integrity in infertile men. Int J androl 2006; 29: 569–575.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Lutsenko EA, Carcamo JM, Golde DW. Vitamin C prevent DNA Mutations Induced by Oxidative Stress. J Biol Chem 2002; 277(19): 16895–16899.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Thiele JJ, Friesleben HJ, Fuchs J, Ochsendorf FR. Ascorbic Acid & Urate in Human Seminal Plasma: Determination & Interrelationship with Chemiluminescence In washed semen. Human Reproduction 1995; 10: 110.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. WHO Laboratory manual for the examination of human semen and sperm cervical mucus interaction. 3rd ed. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. 1992: 1–107.

  12. McCormick DB, Green HL. Methods for the determination of ascorbic acid. In: Text Book of Clinical Chemistry, 2nd Edn. editted by NW Teitz, WB Saunders Company. 1994; 1313–1314.

  13. Kobayashi T, Jinno M, Sugimura K, Nozaya S, Sugiyama T, Lida E. Sperm morphological assessment based on strict criteria and in vitro fertilization outcome. Hum Reprod 1991; 6: 983–986.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Fraczek M, Szkutnik D, Sanocka D, Kurpisz M. Peroxidation components of sperm lipid membranes in male infertility. Ginekol Pol 2001; 72: 73.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Blumenkrantz N, Calamera JC, Lavieri JC, Mancini RE. Ascorbic acid and metabolically related substances in normal and pathological human semen. Fertil Steril 1967; 18(6): 801–806.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Koets P, Michelson L. Relation between ascorbic acid content and quality of human sperm. Fertil Steril 1956; 7: 15.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Chinoy NJ, Buch RP. Metabolic Significance of Ascorbic acid in Human Semen. Ind J Exp Biol 1977; 15: 921–922.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Rolf C, Copper TG, Yeung CH, Nieschlag E. Antioxidant treatment of patients with asthenozoospermia or moderate oligoasthenozoospermia with high-dose vitamin C and vitamin E: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind study. Hum Reprod 1999; 14: 1028–1033.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Dawson EB, Harris WA, Teter MC, Powell LC. Effect of ascorbic acid supplementation on the sperm quality of smokers. Fertil Steril 1992; 58: 1034–1039.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Greco E, Iacobelli M, Rienzi L, Ubaldi F, Ferrero S, Tesarik J. Reduction of the incidence of sperm DNA fragmentation by oral antioxidant. J Androl 2005; 26: 349–353.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reproductive Biology Unit, Department of Physiology, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Wardha, 442102, India

    Piyali Das, A. R. Choudhari, A. Dhawan & Ramji Singh

  2. Department of Physiology, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Wardha, 442102, India

    Ramji Singh

Authors
  1. Piyali Das
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. R. Choudhari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Dhawan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ramji Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ramji Singh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Das, P., Choudhari, A.R., Dhawan, A. et al. Role of ascorbic acid in human seminal plasma against the oxidative damage to the sperms. Indian J Clin Biochem 24, 312–315 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-009-0058-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-009-0058-2

Key Words

Search

Navigation