Vitamin D3: Association of Low Vitamin D3 Levels with Semen Abnormalities in Infertile Males

Background: Insufficiency of vitamin D is one of the utmost general health issues all over the globe, including Pakistan;incompatible data are present on the possible relationship among serum vitamin D values and quality of semen. Objective: Lack of Vitamin D in body is related with a higher risk of various health problems including infertility. In our setup no such type of study had been conducted in the past on the relationship among serum vitamin D levels and infertility. This study was aimed to investigate male subjects with infertility and serum levels of vitamin D. Methods: This study was cross-sectional and performed on 243 male subjects who attended the clinic for evaluation of infertility from January 2016 to December 2017. Mean age of patients was 31.94 years with standard deviation of 7.52 years. The mean age of controls was 32.2 years with SD 8.42 years, age ranged between 20 years as minimum to 46 years as maximum. The minimum vitamin D level was 7.00 ng/dl while maximum 130 ng/dl, mean was 26.20 and standard deviation was 22.06 ng/ml. Levels of vitamin D were significantly low in (67%) male subjects with infertility. The mean vitamin D level of controls was 49.40 with SD of 35.98 ng/ml. 28% of controls had also vitamin D levels below the normal range, which indicates the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in general population here in our setup. The participants were divided according to WHO (World Health Organization) 2010 criteria along with corresponding healthy control subjects. A questionnaire for evaluation of infertility in male subjects was filled by all the contestants. Results: Levels of vitamin D were significantly low in (67%) male subjects with infertility. While 28% of controls had also vitamin D levels below the normal range. Infertile male subjects with low or no sperm count were found insufficient for vitamin D in comparison to healthy control subjects. Conclusion: It was concluded from the results of current study that low levels of vitamin D are related with abnormal male reproductive function, the severity of that was subject to the amount of vitamin D insufficiency.

Vitamin D: Level of Vitamin D3 in AFB Positive PTB Patients in Initial Diagnostic Phase

Background: A relationship among vitamin D and pulmonary tuberculosis. Objective: To conclude the occurrence of Vitamin D insufficiency in subjects suffering from pulmonary TB. Design: This was a cross sectional study. Setting: Current study was performed at department of medicine, Peoples Medical College Hospital Nawabshah starting from January 2017 to December 2017. Samples: 385 AFB positive subjects of pulmonary tuberculosis after achieving the criteria of selection were recruited. Material and Methods: After a brief discussion, the patients were characterized for variable evaluation such as age, gender, sputum AFB and duration of disease and presence of low vitamin D levels. Sputum AFB criterion was used for Data collection. Fasting blood samples were collected for analysis of vitamin D levels in all subjects of AFB positive pulmonary tuberculosis. Results: In 385 diagnosed patients with smear positive PTB, 273 (70.9%) males and 112 (29.1%) were female. Vitamin D levels were within normal or sufficient range in 134 (34.8%), below normal range in 251 (65.2%) cases (insufficient in 09.56% (24/251) and deficient in 90.43% (227/251) cases). Conclusion: Decreased levels of vitamin D were common in subjects with AFB smear Positive PTB cases.