Effects of Diet-Induced Obesity and Deficient in Vitamin D on Spermatozoa Function and DNA Integrity in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Obesity has adverse effects on male fertility and usually is diagnosed with a prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VD(−)). Discussion on the impact of obesity/VD(−) on sperm function has been limited. This study analyzed the effects of diet-induced obesity/VD(−) on viability and plasma membrane integrity (PMI), superoxide anion (O(2)(−)) level, and DNA fragmentation (DNA(frag)) in sperm Sprague-Dawley rats. The males were randomized into four groups and fed for a period of 12 weeks: G1: control diet with vitamin D (C/VD(+)), G2: control diet without vitamin D (C/VD(−)), G3: high-fat diet with vitamin D (HF/VD(+)), and G4: high-fat diet without vitamin D (HF/VD(−)). Sperm function parameters were analyzed by flow cytometry. PMI percentages and O(2)(−) levels were not affected by any of the diets. DNA fragmentation was increasing significantly (p<0.05) in the spermatozoa of animals with diets vitamin D deficient (G2) and diet-induced obesity (G4). Our results allow us to point out that diet-induced obesity and VD(−) produce greater damage in DNA sperm of rats. The use of nutraceuticals containing vitamin D could be reducing the risk of fragmentation of DNA in spermatozoa.