MALE FACTOR INFERTILITY AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH VITAMIN D3 DEFICIENCY IN KASHMIR, NORTH INDIA: AN OBSERVATIONAL ANALYSIS OF CLINICAL AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS

Abstract

Introduction: Male factor infertility is a rising concern regarding health and contributes to global infertility. Vitamin D3 is significant for spermatogenesis, the regulation of hormones, and the motility of the sperm. The study aims to analyse the relationship between the deficiency of vitamin D3, features of semen, hormonal profile and the socio-demographic parameters among infertile males. Method: This hospital-based cross-sectional analytical study included 150 infertile men. Clinical evaluation, semen analysis, serum Vitamin D3 estimation, and testosterone assessment were performed for all participants. Semen parameters including sperm count, motility, morphology, and seminal white blood cell count were evaluated according to standard WHO guidelines. Participants were categorised based on Vitamin D3 status. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, correlation analysis, one-way ANOVA, and post hoc multiple comparison tests, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Result: Among 150 infertile men, 34.0% were Vitamin D deficient and 17.3% were Vitamin D insufficient. Vitamin D sufficiency was associated with significantly higher total sperm count, sperm motility, actively motile sperm percentage, and testosterone levels compared with Vitamin D deficiency (p<0.05). Vitamin D levels showed significant positive correlations with total sperm count (r=0.303), motility (r=0.336), active motility (r=0.355), and testosterone (r=0.321), while demonstrating negative correlations with immotile sperm percentage (r=-0.354) and seminal white blood cell count (r=-0.326) (all p<0.05). Conclusion: The study has concluded that Vitamin D3 deficiency is highly prevalent among men with infertility and is associated with poorer semen quality. Lower Vitamin D3 levels were significantly associated with reduced total sperm count, sperm motility, actively motile sperm percentage, and testosterone levels, while showing significant negative associations with immotile sperm percentage and seminal white blood cell count.