Vitamin D and Human Sperm DNA Fragmentation
Vitamin D and Human Sperm DNA Fragmentation
The purpose of this study will be to investigate if there is a correlation between Vitamin D
 levels and Sperm DNA Fragmentation. This is a prospective, cohort study. In this study male
 participants presenting with their partners because of inability to conceive will be
 recruited for this study. Participants will have a blood sample drawn which will be tested
 for Vitamin D level. The investigators will then compare sperm DNA fragmentation between
 normal Vitamin D levels, Vitamin D insufficiency, and Vitamin D deficiency. All infertile
 males who present to the investigators' infertility clinic have a Semen analysis and Sperm
 chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA). The research part of the study will be to obtain the
 Vitamin D level.
Vitamin D plays an important role in bone metabolism and has also been discovered to
 influence male reproduction. Vitamin D binds to the Vitamin D receptor which then can bind to
 Vitamin D response elements in the DNA which can alter transcription. By changing
 transcription it can have long term effects on cellular metabolism. Previous studies have
 demonstrated abnormalities in sperm motility and morphology in males who are Vitamin D
 deficient. The mechanism by which Vitamin D affects spermatogenesis (formation of sperm) is
 unknown. One possibly mechanism by which deficient Vitamin D may affect sperm formation is
 through DNA fragmentation. The head of the sperm contains all the DNA. When a sperm cell is
 made the DNA in the nucleus must be super compacted to accomplish sperm formation. To
 sufficiently compact the DNA, first the DNA is 'turned off' and then very tightly wound (or
 compacted) into toroids (like small tires) which are stacked one on top of another. During
 this process of compaction the DNA will occasionally break or fragment. The egg can repair
 the DNA fragmentation as long as there is not a large amount of breakage. If the DNA
 fragmentation exceeds a certain amount then fertilization and early development of the embryo
 may be adversely affected. DNA fragmentation can be tested by using the Sperm Chromatin
 Structure Assay (SCSA), which the investigators currently measure in males who present with
 their partners with infertility. Previous studies have suggested that the abnormalities in
 sperm due to vitamin D deficiency may be related to increased DNA fragmentation. This study
 will assist in understanding the cause of sperm abnormalities in subjects with Vitamin D
 deficiency.

 This is a prospective, cohort study. In this study male patients who present with inability
 to conceive will be asked to be involved in this study. After agreement with the study, a
 blood sample drawn which will be tested for Vitamin D level. The investigators will then
 compare sperm DNA fragmentation between normal Vitamin D levels, Vitamin D insufficiency, and
 Vitamin D deficiency. All infertile males presenting to the investigators' infertility clinic
 have a Semen analysis and Sperm chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA). The research part of the
 study will be to obtain the Vitamin D level.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Male with diagnosis of infertility.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Azoospermia