The association of vitamin D, semen parameters, and reproductive hormones with male infertility: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and male infertility is high in Iran. OBJECTIVE: The present research aimed to examine the association between serum vitamin D [25(OH)D], parameters of semen including semen volume, sperm count, motility and morphology, and reproductive hormones in infertile Iranian men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study on 119 infertile men conducted between September 2018 and May 2019. Subjects were divided into 3 groups based on serum vitamin D levels: deficient ( [Formula: see text] 10 ng/mL), insufficient (10 ng/mL [Formula: see text] 25(OH)D [Formula: see text] 30 ng/mL), and sufficient ( [Formula: see text] 30 ng/mL). Body mass index and waist circumference were measured. 25(OH)D, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol levels, and semen parameters were assessed. RESULTS: The semen volume, sperm counts, total and progressively motile sperm, normal sperm morphology, testosterone levels, and testosterone/estradiol ratio were substantially higher in the sufficient group compared to the other groups (p [Formula: see text] 0.001). Also, in the sufficient group, serum LH (p [Formula: see text] 0.001) and estradiol (p [Formula: see text] 0.001, p = 0.01) were notably lower and serum sex hormone-binding globulin (p [Formula: see text] 0.001) and the testosterone/LH ratio (p [Formula: see text] 0.001) were considerably higher compared to the insufficient and deficient groups. CONCLUSION: Our study showed a positive relationship between serum vitamin D levels, and seminal parameters and sex hormones in Iranian infertile males.