Impact of Quercetin on Oxidative Stress and Sperm Function in Leukocytospermic Subfertile Men
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36283/ziun-pjmd14-3/045Keywords:
Antioxidants, Male Infertility, Leukocyte Count, Oxida, Quercetin, Reactive Oxygen SpeciesAbstract
Background: Leukocytospermia, which is defined as the substinence of a raised amount of white blood cells in seminal fluid, is generally correlated with male subfertility. It causes oxidative stress, influencing the motility and morphology of sperm and its DNA integrity. The objective of the study is to investigate the association between leukocytospermia (as a marker of oxidative stress) and impaired seminal constraints in subfertile men, and to evaluate the role of quercetin—a natural antioxidant—in taming sperm quality, motility, and overall outcomes of fertility.
Methods: This case-control study was conducted for a duration of 6 months and included a total of 30 male participants, comprising 15 subfertile men with leukocytospermia and 15 healthy fertile controls. Participants were recruited using a purposive sampling technique from the infertility clinic of Imran Idrees Teaching Hospital and the general community in Sialkot. Semen samples were collected following a standardized abstinence period of 3–4 days Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21, and group comparisons were made using independent t-tests, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.
Results: Subfertile men had significantly lower sperm count (30.71 ± 1.65 vs. 75.67 ± 5.46 million/mL; p<0.001), decreased motility (52.47 ± 5.61% vs. 78.33 ± 2.70%; p=0.017), and increased leukocyte counts (3.75 ± 0.45 vs. 0.51 ± 0.04 million/mL; p<0.001) than controls. Levels of Quercetin were indispensably decreased in subfertile men and negatively correlated with leukocytospermia (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Leukocytospermia is associated with oxidative stress and compromised sperm quality. Quercetin is promising in inhibiting oxidative damage and enhancing fertility in subfertile men. More research is advised to confirm its clinical efficacy.
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