Home LiteratureArticle Details
PMID: 19794921 Published · ppublish English Journal Article

Ascorbic Acid in human seminal plasma: determination and its relationship to sperm quality.

Journal of clinical biochemistry and nutrition ·Vol. 45 ·No. 2 ·2009-09-00 ·Pages 144-9

Colagar AH, Marzony ET

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to assess the ascorbic acid (AA) levels in seminal plasma of the fertile and infertile men and to investigate its relationship with sperm count, motility and normal morphology. Semen samples were provided by fertile [smoker (n = 25), nonsmoker (n = 21)] and infertile men [smoker (n = 23), nonsmoker (n = 32)]. A simplified method of reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) procedure using UV detection was applied for the determination of seminal AA. Fertile subjects, smoker or not, demonstrated significantly higher seminal AA levels than any infertile group (p<0.01). Nonsmokers had high, but no significant, mean AA levels in their seminal plasma compared with smokers. Seminal AA in fertile and infertile (smokers or nonsmokers) males correlated significantly with the percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology (p<0.01). Seminal AA decreased significantly in infertile men. Decrease of seminal plasma AA is a risk factor for low normal morphology of spermatozoa and idiopathic male infertility. Measurement of seminal AA in the seminal plasma of males with a history of subfertility or idiopathic infertility is necessary and can be helpful in fertility assessment.

Keywords
RP-HPLC ascorbic acid male infertility seminal plasma sperm quality
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Colagar Abasalt H
Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Univ. of Mazandaran, Babolsar 47416-95447, Iran.
Marzony Eisa T
References (48)
48 references, click to expand
  1. [Total antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma in fertile and infertile men].
    Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2005 Dec;11(12):915-7 PMID: 16398363
  2. Oxidative stress, sperm survival and fertility control.
    Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2006 May 16;250(1-2):66-9 PMID: 16412557
  3. Role of reactive oxygen species in male infertility.
    Urology. 1996 Dec;48(6):835-50 PMID: 8973665
  4. Role of oxidative stress and antioxidants in andrology and assisted reproductive technology.
    J Androl. 2004 Jan-Feb;25(1):5-18 PMID: 14662779
  5. Antioxidant capacity of the epididymis.
    Hum Reprod. 1999 Oct;14(10):2513-6 PMID: 10527979
  6. Effect of ascorbic acid supplementation on the sperm quality of smokers.
    Fertil Steril. 1992 Nov;58(5):1034-9 PMID: 1426355
  7. Effect of cigarette smoking on levels of seminal oxidative stress in infertile men: a prospective study.
    Fertil Steril. 2002 Sep;78(3):491-9 PMID: 12215323
  8. Negative effects of increased sperm DNA damage in relation to seminal oxidative stress in men with idiopathic and male factor infertility.
    Fertil Steril. 2003 Jun;79 Suppl 3:1597-605 PMID: 12801566
  9. Antioxidant supplementation in vitro does not improve human sperm motility.
    Fertil Steril. 1999 Sep;72(3):484-95 PMID: 10519621
  10. The reactive oxygen species-total antioxidant capacity score is a new measure of oxidative stress to predict male infertility.
    Hum Reprod. 1999 Nov;14(11):2801-7 PMID: 10548626
  11. Oxidative stress and male infertility: from research bench to clinical practice.
    J Androl. 2002 Nov-Dec;23(6):737-52 PMID: 12399514
  12. Reactive oxygen species generation and human spermatozoa: the balance of benefit and risk.
    Bioessays. 1994 Apr;16(4):259-67 PMID: 8031303
  13. Increased oxidative deoxyribonucleic acid damage in the spermatozoa of infertile male patients.
    Fertil Steril. 1997 Sep;68(3):519-24 PMID: 9314926
  14. [Correlation of total antioxidant capacity in seminal plasma with sperm motility of infertile men].
    Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2006 Aug;12(8):703-5 PMID: 16970158
  15. Use of a xanthine oxidase free radical generating system to investigate the cytotoxic effects of reactive oxygen species on human spermatozoa.
    J Reprod Fertil. 1993 Mar;97(2):441-50 PMID: 8388958
  16. Randomised trial of clomiphene citrate treatment and vitamin C for male infertility.
    Br J Urol. 1982 Dec;54(6):780-4 PMID: 6817845
  17. The effect of ascorbate and alpha-tocopherol supplementation in vitro on DNA integrity and hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage in human spermatozoa.
    Mutagenesis. 1999 Sep;14(5):505-12 PMID: 10473655
  18. Randomised trial of mesterolone versus vitamin C for male infertility. Scottish Infertility Group.
    Br J Urol. 1984 Dec;56(6):740-4 PMID: 6398725
  19. A simple colorimetric method for ascorbic acid determination in blood plasma.
    Clin Chim Acta. 1978 Jun;86(2):153-7 PMID: 657538
  20. Cooperative function of antioxidant and redox systems against oxidative stress in male reproductive tissues.
    Asian J Androl. 2003 Sep;5(3):231-42 PMID: 12937808
  21. Analytical methods for determining ascorbic acid in biological samples, food products, and pharmaceuticals.
    J Assoc Off Anal Chem. 1985 Jan-Feb;68(1):1-12 PMID: 3884584
  22. Plasma ascorbic acid: measurement, stability and clinical utility revisited.
    Clin Biochem. 2001 Nov;34(8):623-7 PMID: 11849621
  23. Role of reactive oxygen species in the pathophysiology of human reproduction.
    Fertil Steril. 2003 Apr;79(4):829-43 PMID: 12749418
  24. Glutathione and hypotaurine in vitro: effects on human sperm motility, DNA integrity and production of reactive oxygen species.
    Mutagenesis. 2000 Jan;15(1):61-8 PMID: 10640532
  25. Relationship between ascorbic acid and male fertility.
    World Rev Nutr Diet. 1990;62:1-26 PMID: 2180213
  26. Human sperm motility and lipid peroxidation in different ascorbic acid concentrations: an in vitro analysis.
    Andrologia. 1998 Nov;30(6):325-9 PMID: 9835946
  27. Measurement of vitamin C in blood components by high-performance liquid chromatography. Implication in assessing vitamin C status.
    Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1987;498:389-401 PMID: 3304068
  28. Sperm morphologic features as a prognostic factor in in vitro fertilization.
    Fertil Steril. 1986 Dec;46(6):1118-23 PMID: 2946611
  29. Catalytic metals, ascorbate and free radicals: combinations to avoid.
    Radiat Res. 1996 May;145(5):532-41 PMID: 8619018
  30. Role of antioxidants in treatment of male infertility: an overview of the literature.
    Reprod Biomed Online. 2004 Jun;8(6):616-27 PMID: 15169573
  31. Ascorbic acid protects against endogenous oxidative DNA damage in human sperm.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991 Dec 15;88(24):11003-6 PMID: 1763015
  32. Ascorbic acid and fertility.
    Biol Reprod. 1995 Feb;52(2):262-6 PMID: 7711198
  33. Ascorbic acid and urate in human seminal plasma: determination and interrelationships with chemiluminescence in washed semen.
    Hum Reprod. 1995 Jan;10(1):110-5 PMID: 7745037
  34. Antioxidant treatment of patients with asthenozoospermia or moderate oligoasthenozoospermia with high-dose vitamin C and vitamin E: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.
    Hum Reprod. 1999 Apr;14(4):1028-33 PMID: 10221237
  35. Antioxidant potential of human serum albumin: role in the recovery of high quality human spermatozoa for assisted reproductive technology.
    J Androl. 1998 Jul-Aug;19(4):412-9 PMID: 9733143
  36. Increased reactive oxygen species formation in semen of patients with spinal cord injury.
    Fertil Steril. 1995 Mar;63(3):637-42 PMID: 7851599
  37. Total antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma is different in fertile and infertile men.
    Fertil Steril. 1995 Oct;64(4):868-70 PMID: 7672165
  38. Mechanism, measurement, and prevention of oxidative stress in male reproductive physiology.
    Indian J Exp Biol. 2005 Nov;43(11):963-74 PMID: 16315393
  39. Determination of plasma ascorbic acid by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet and electrochemical detection.
    J Chromatogr. 1993 Jan 29;612(1):63-70 PMID: 8454704
  40. Total antioxidant capacity of human seminal plasma.
    Hum Reprod. 1996 Aug;11(8):1655-60 PMID: 8921112
  41. High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of ascorbic acid in serum using paired-ion chromatography and UV spectrophotometric detection.
    J Clin Chem Clin Biochem. 1988 Jul;26(7):459-61 PMID: 3221177
  42. A free radical theory of male infertility.
    Reprod Fertil Dev. 1994;6(1):19-23; discussion 23-4 PMID: 8066217
  43. Relationship of sperm parameters with levels of reactive oxygen species in semen specimens.
    J Urol. 1994 Jul;152(1):107-10 PMID: 8201640
  44. Effect of ascorbic acid on male fertility.
    Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1987;498:312-23 PMID: 3476000
  45. Oxidative stress and role of antioxidants in normal and abnormal sperm function.
    Front Biosci. 1996 Aug 01;1:e78-86 PMID: 9159248
  46. Formation of reactive oxygen species in spermatozoa of infertile patients.
    Fertil Steril. 1992 Feb;57(2):409-16 PMID: 1735495
  47. Effects of vitamin C deficiency on physiology of male reproductive organs of guinea pigs.
    Int J Fertil. 1986 Jul-Aug;31(3):232-9 PMID: 2875967
  48. Effect of smoking on seminal plasma ascorbic acid in infertile and fertile males.
    Andrologia. 2006 Dec;38(6):221-4 PMID: 17081174
Article Info
Journal
Journal of clinical biochemistry and nutrition
Abbr.
J Clin Biochem Nutr
ISSN
0912-0009
DOI
10.3164/jcbn.08-251
Published
2009-09-00
Epub
2009-00-28
Pages
144-9
Language
English
Region
Japan
NLM ID
8700907
PMCID
PMC2735625
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.08-251 PMC Full Text View journal details
Analysis Services
Analysis Services

Contact

No. 2 Wenbo Road, Zhangqiu District, Jinan, Shandong

Qilu Normal University · Genelibs Bioinformatics Lab

750 Shunhua Rd, Jinan

2F, Bldg F, University Science Park

Tel: 0531-88819269

WeChat Official Account

Follow our WeChat subscription account for real-time updates and the latest in medical and biological research.


Business Email

E-mail: [email protected]

Copyright © 2026.Genelibs Jinan Honghui Biotechnology Co., Ltd. 鲁ICP备20007159号-2