Alpha‐ and gamma‐tocopherol levels in human semen and their potential functional implications. (17th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zerbinati, Chiara; Caponecchia, Luisa; Fiori, Cristina; Sebastianelli, Annalisa; Salacone, Pietro; Ciacciarelli, Marco; Iuliano, Luigi
• Is Part Of: Andrologia. Volume 52:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-02-17
• Subjects: GC‐MS analysis -- male fertility -- oxidative stress -- sperm cryopreservation -- vitamin E; Andrology -- Periodicals; Infertility, Male -- Periodicals; 616.69
• DOI: 10.1111/and.13543
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0303-4569

Abstract

Abstract: Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that has been considered involved in fertility, but studies have mostly focused on α‐tocopherol. Our study aimed at measuring, by an isotope dilution gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method, α‐ and γ‐tocopherol concentration in human semen in a large and well‐characterised population (134 men with different semen parameters and in varicocele patients), as well as their potential role in male fertility. We carried out freeze/thaw experiments in 15 samples with the two isomers in the cryoprotective medium. Moreover, our study included 10 subjects supplemented in vivo with α‐tocopherol for 90 days. In seminal plasma, γ‐tocopherol concentration was significantly lower in the varicocele group than in the normozoospermic group. We observed that γ‐tocopherol, supplemented to cryopreservation medium, induced a higher post‐thaw human sperm viability and motility than α‐tocopherol. The results of in vivo α‐tocopherol supplementation showed a decrease in γ‐tocopherol concentration with increasing α‐tocopherol level in blood. This is the first report related to γ‐tocopherol distribution in human semen analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. γ‐tocopherol would not seem to be related to semen parameters but to cellular oxidative condition. This tocopherol may contribute to human health in a yet unexplored way.