calcitriol and Infertility--Male

Results of animal models and cross-sectional cohort studies have suggested a beneficial role for vitamin D in male reproduction.. Determine the effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on semen quality in infertile men with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D (25OHD) levels ≤50 nmol/L.. A single-center, triple-blinded, randomized clinical trial.. A total of 1427 infertile men were screened to include 330; 1002 men did not meet inclusion criteria and 95 did not wish to participate.. The active group received cholecalciferol 300,000 IU initially, then 1400 IU cholecalciferol and 500 mg of calcium daily for 150 days; the other group received placebo.. Serum concentrations of 25OHD and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 were significantly higher in men in the treatment group compared with the placebo group. Vitamin D supplementation was not associated with changes in semen parameters, although spontaneous pregnancies tended to be higher in couples in which the man was in the treatment group [7.3% vs 2.4%, Δ5.0% (-0.6%; 10.5%)]. Vitamin D treatment in a subgroup of oligozoospermic men increased the chance for a live birth compared with placebo [35.6% vs 18.3%, Δ17.3% (1.6%; 32.9%)]. Moreover, serum inhibin B levels were higher in men deficient in vitamin D who were randomly assigned to receive high-dose vitamin D [193 pg/mL vs 143 pg/mL, Δ49 pg/mL (8; 91 pg/mL)]; however, the increase in sperm concentration was not significantly higher than in the placebo group (P = 0.07).. High-dose vitamin D supplementation did not improve semen quality in vitamin D-insufficient infertile men. The positive impact of vitamin D supplementation on live birth rate and serum inhibin B in oligozoospermic and vitamin D-deficient men may be of clinical importance and warrant verification by others.

Topics: Adult; Calcium; Cholecalciferol; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Middle Aged; Oligospermia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy Rate; Semen Analysis; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency

Recently, the question of whether vitamin D exerts an effect on the pathogenic process of infertility has become the centre of attention. There are some controversial conclusions on this issue. Based on previous studies, we sought to explore the difference of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D

Topics: Adult; Calcifediol; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Humans; Infertility, Male; Luteinizing Hormone; Male; Prolactin; Semen Analysis; Sperm Count; Testosterone; Vitamin D

We evaluated the morphological effect and alterations in gene expression caused by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D treatment in the mouse testis undergoing experimental cryptorchidism and subsequent orchiopexy.. The mean modified Johnsen score and testicular weight were estimated after 4 weeks of treatment with a 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D prodrug. We examined sites of vitamin D receptor and mRNA expression, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D analogue accumulation in the mouse testis. Also, we compared alterations in gene expression in the cryptorchid mouse testis with or without 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D administration by testis specific cDNA microarray. We confirmed protein synthesis of a candidate among up-regulated genes in primary cultures of Sertoli's cells by Western blotting.. Mean +/- SEM Johnsen score and testicular weight were increased by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D treatment but not significantly (6.12 +/- 0.33 vs 5.27 +/- 0.4 and 49.3 +/- 3.8 mg vs 42.6 +/- 5.5, p = 0.13 and 0.065, respectively). Vitamin D receptor and its mRNA were positive in Sertoli's cells. The 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D analogue accumulated mainly in Sertoli's cells. Of 2,483 testis specific genes 19 showed up-regulation by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D treatment. Of these genes the regulator of cellular cholesterol homeostasis Abca1 was expressed mainly in Sertoli's cells and influenced male fertility. In primary cultures of Sertoli's cells the synthesis of Abca1 protein was increased by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D treatment but not by follicle-stimulating hormone or testosterone treatment.. We noted that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D contributes to spermatogenesis by up-regulating certain specific genes in Sertoli's cells. Testis specific cDNA microarray analysis and vitamin D supplementation may have implications for managing male infertility.

Topics: Animals; Cryptorchidism; Gene Expression; Infertility, Male; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Spermatogenesis; Testis; Vitamin D