The Relationship of Cadmium, Nickel, and Manganese Trace Elements with Oxidative Stress in the Semen of Infertile Men

Background Objective: Trace element levels are important for sperm function. On the other hand, oxidative stress is one of the most important causes of DNA damage. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and manganese (Mn) trace elements and also oxidative stress in infertile men. Materials Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 50 oligozoospermic, 50 asthenozoospermic, and 50 normozoospermic men. All individuals were subjected to semen analysis. Cadmium, nickel, manganese, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total oxidant status (TOS) were detected using the manual assays. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were analyzed using the ELISA. Results: The findings revealed that there was a significant increase in TOS index in the patient groups compared to the normozoospermic group (p = 0.045, p = 0.038 respectively); however, these changes were downward for the TAC factor. The levels of SOD and GPx activities were significantly reduced in the patient groups compared to the normozoospermic group (p = 0.015, p = 0.020 respectively). Also, Cd and Ni levels were significantly elevated and had a negative association with TAC in the patient groups compared to the normozoospermic group. However, the results of Mn level showed a significantly lower value and a positive association with the TAC index. Conclusion: Mn as a component of SOD enzyme is necessary for normal sperm functions. In contrast, high levels of Cd and Ni are toxic for human sperm and negatively correlated with TAC and sperm parameters.