Total anti-oxidant status: a biochemical predictor of human male fertility

The objective of the study was to assess whether seminal plasma total antioxidant status (TAS) can be used as a biochemical predictor of male fertility and its variation in different categories of infertile male subjects in our population. The study population consisted of 28 fertile and 127 infertile [teratozoospermic (30), asthenoteratozoospermic (30), azoospermic (21), oligoastheno-teratozoospermic (20), polyzoospermic (15) and oligozoospermic (11)] male subjects. Seminal plasma was separated by centrifugation and stored at minus 80 degree Celsius. Semen was analysed using computer-assisted semen analysis according to WHO criteria. Seminal plasma TAS was estimated by colorimetric method using Randox total antioxidant status kit. TAS of fertile male subjects was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than that of infertile patients. In whole studied population, seminal plasma TAS showed a significant positive correlation with sperm concentration (P < 0.001), sperm motility (P < 0.0001), and spermatozoa with normal morphology (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, this study suggests that TAS of seminal plasma is one of the important factors contributing to male infertility, and it can be used as a biochemical predictor for male fertility.