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The effect of zinc supplementation on improving sperm parameters in infertile diabetic men

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Abstract

Background and aims

Diabetes mellitus (DM) may have different adverse effects on the male reproductive system. Zinc (Zn) is one of the necessary elements in the human and mammalian diet that plays an important role in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) by providing antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effects of zinc supplements on sperm chromatin and the evaluation of sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) integrity in diabetic men.

Methods

In this interventional study, 43 infertile Iranian men in diabetic and non-diabetic groups were included. They were then randomly divided into two subgroups: normal saline intake and zinc sulfate intake (25 mg orally for 64 days each). Different indices of sperm analysis (number, morphology and motility) and testosterone levels were evaluated in four groups. Protamine deficiency and DNA fragmentation were assessed using chromomycin A3 (CMA3) and sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) methods, respectively.

Results

Zinc supplementation reduced the deformity of neck and head of sperms (p < 0.05), as well as deformity of sperm tail in infertile diabetic men. Zinc administration ameliorated sperm motility types A, B and C (p < 0.05). Moreover, zinc administration reduced abnormal morphology and DNA fragmentation of sperms, which increased the SCD1 and SCD2 and reduced the SCD3 and SCD4 in both treated groups.

Conclusion

Zinc supplementation, as a powerful complement, is able to balance the effect of diabetes on sperm parameters, sperm chromatin and DNA integrity. Consequently, zinc supplementation can probably be considered a supportive compound in the diet of diabetic infertile men.

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Abbreviations

DM:

Diabetes mellitus

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

CMA3:

Chromomycin A3

SCD:

Sperm chromatin dispersion

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

DTT:

Dithiothreitol

SDS:

Sodium dodecyl sulfate

EDTA:

Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank of Afzalipour infertility center of Kerman. Also, this work was supported by the grant number of [IR.GERUMS.RE.1396.1077] provided by the deputy of research affairs of Gerash university of medical sciences, Gerash, Iran.

Funding

The Deputy of Research Affairs of Gerash University of Medical Sciences [IR] provided funding for this research.GERUMS.RE.1396.1077]. The Deputy of Research Affairs of Gerash University of Medical Sciences had no role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and writing of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Gerash University of Medical Sciences, Gerash, Iran

    Hakimeh Akbari (Assistant Professor), Ali Asghar Khaleghi (Assistant Professor) & Masoud Mohammadi (Lecture)

  2. Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran

    Leila Elyasi (Assistant Professor)

Authors
  1. Hakimeh Akbari
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  2. Leila Elyasi
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  4. Masoud Mohammadi
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Correspondence to Masoud Mohammadi.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest

Ethical approval and consent to participate

Ethics approval was received from the ethics committee of the deputy of research affairs of Gerash University of medical sciences. Reference Number: IR.GERUMS.RE.1396.1077. All procedures performed in this study were performed in accordance with the ethical standards contained in the Declaration of Helsinki and its subsequent amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Conscious consent was also obtained in writing from all study participants.

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Hakimeh Akbari: is an Assistant Professor at the Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Gerash University of Medical Sciences, Gerash, Iran; Leila Elyasi: is an Assistant Professor at the Neuroscience Research Center, Department of Anatomy, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran; Ali Asghar Khaleghi: is an Assistant Professor at Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Gerash University of Medical Sciences, Gerash, Iran; Masoud Mohammadi is a faculty member, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Gerash University of Medical Sciences, Gerash, Iran.

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Akbari, H., Elyasi, L., Khaleghi, A.A. et al. The effect of zinc supplementation on improving sperm parameters in infertile diabetic men. J Obstet Gynecol India 73, 316–321 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-023-01767-7

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