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BMC Urology
Published in: BMC Urology 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Oral zinc supplementation restore high molecular weight seminal zinc binding protein to normal value in Iraqi infertile men

Authors: Mahmoud Hussein Hadwan, Lamia A Almashhedy, Abdul Razzaq S Alsalman

Published in: BMC Urology | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Background

Zinc in human seminal plasma is divided into three types of ligands which are high (HMW), intermediate (IMW), and low molecular weight ligands (LMW). The present study was aimed to study the effect of Zn supplementation on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of semen along with Zinc Binding Protein levels in the seminal plasma in asthenozoospermic patients.

Methods

Semen samples were obtained from 37 fertile and 37 asthenozoospermic infertile men with matched age. The subfertile group was treated with zinc sulfate, every participant took two capsules per day for three months (each one 220mg). Semen samples were obtained (before and after zinc sulfate supplementation). After liquefaction seminal fluid at room temperature, routine semen analyses were performed. For determination of the amount of zinc binding proteins, the gel filtration of seminal plasma on Sephadex G-75 was performed. All the fractions were investigated for protein and for zinc concentration by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Evaluation of chromatograms was made directly from the zinc concentration in each fraction.

Results

A significant high molecular weight zinc binding ligands percentage (HMW-Zn %) was observed in seminal plasma of fertile males compared with subfertile males. However, seminal low molecular weight ligands (LMW-Zn) have opposite behavior. The mean value of semen volume, progressive sperm motility percentage and total normal sperm count were increased after zinc sulfate supplementation.

Conclusions

Zinc supplementation restores HMW-Zn% in seminal plasma of asthenozoospermic subjects to normal value. Zinc supplementation elevates LMW-Zn% in seminal plasma of asthenozoospermic subjects to more than normal value.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01612403
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Oral zinc supplementation restore high molecular weight seminal zinc binding protein to normal value in Iraqi infertile men
Authors
Mahmoud Hussein Hadwan
Lamia A Almashhedy
Abdul Razzaq S Alsalman
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Urology / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2490
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2490-12-32

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