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Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 5/2016

01-05-2016 | Reproductive Physiology and Disease

Diagnostic application of total antioxidant capacity in seminal plasma to assess oxidative stress in male factor infertility

Authors: Shubhadeep Roychoudhury, Rakesh Sharma, Suresh Sikka, Ashok Agarwal

Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics | Issue 5/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

This study was undertaken in order to establish a new reference value for the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in seminal plasma as a predictor of fertility. This study also aims to propose a detailed protocol for the TAC assay including calculation of assay results and assessment of sensitivity and specificity over possible cutoff values in infertile men and controls with proven and unproven fertility.

Methods

Seminal plasma from 279 infertile patients and 46 normal healthy men referred to a male infertility testing laboratory were tested to measure TAC by a colorimetric assay kit. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were generated to establish cutoff values, sensitivity, and specificity, and the distribution of cutoff values in controls and infertile patients was calculated.

Results

Infertile patients showed significantly lower levels (mean ± SEM) of total antioxidants (micromolar Trolox equivalents) in their seminal plasma (1863.84 ± 27.16 μM) compared to those from fertile men (2013 ± 56.04 μM, P = 0.019). A preferred cutoff TAC value of 1947 μM could facilitate better diagnosis of oxidative stress (OS) in men with male factor infertility. At this threshold, the specificity of TAC assay was 63.0 % and the sensitivity 59.5 % with a positive predictive value of 90.7 % and a negative predictive value of 20.4 %.

Conclusions

Our results establish a new diagnostic cutoff TAC value of 1947 μM in seminal plasma to distinguish prevalence of OS in infertile patients compared to healthy men. This study provides a robust reference value of seminal plasma TAC that may provide an important diagnostic tool to the physicians for managing OS and male factor infertility in such patients.
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Metadata
Title
Diagnostic application of total antioxidant capacity in seminal plasma to assess oxidative stress in male factor infertility
Authors
Shubhadeep Roychoudhury
Rakesh Sharma
Suresh Sikka
Ashok Agarwal
Publication date
01-05-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics / Issue 5/2016
Print ISSN: 1058-0468
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7330
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-016-0677-5

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