Blood Magnesium Level and Selected Oxidative Stress Indices in Lead-Exposed Workers

Occupational exposure to lead is one of the important hazards to human global population. Lead interferes with divalent cations, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron. Magnesium is the fourth most common mineral in the human body and a cofactor in more than 325 enzymes. There are many disorders associated with magnesium deficiency. It has been postulated that hypomagnesemia promotes oxidative stress. Study population included 232 male employees of lead-zinc works and was divided into two sub-groups based on the median of magnesium serum level: low magnesium level (L-Mg) group and high magnesium level (H-Mg) group. Magnesium level was significantly higher in the H-Mg group than in the L-Mg group due to the study design. The level of zinc protoporphyrin was significantly higher in the L-Mg group than in the H-Mg group by 13%, while the blood lead levels were similar in the examined groups. The serum level of MDA was significantly higher in the L-Mg group than in the H-Mg group by 12%, while the serum levels of thiol groups, TAC, and bilirubin were significantly lower in that group by 6%, 3%, and 27%, respectively. Similarly, the erythrocyte SOD activity was lower in the L-Mg group than in the H-Mg group by 5%. Low serum magnesium levels contribute to lead-induced oxidative stress, result in unfavorable modification of antioxidant system function, and promote lead-induced impairment of heme synthesis. Obtained results indicate that prevention of hypomagnesemia should be regarded as an important step in ensuring adequate prophylaxis of chronic lead poisoning

Levels of Macro- and Trace Elements and Select Cytokines in the Semen of Infertile Men

The current study evaluated levels of macro-/trace elements, select cytokines, and sperm quality, in the semen of men with abnormal spermograms. The study population of men with abnormal spermograms was divided into three groups, i.e., oligospermic, asthenozoospermic, and oligoasthenozoospermic. The control group was fertile men with normal semen parameters. Analyses showed that in comparison with that in the semen of the fertile men, levels of calcium, magnesium, and selenium were significantly lower in men with all three groups. Semen levels of zinc were significantly lower in men with asthenospermia as compared with that in control. GGT (gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase) activity in semen was significantly higher in men in any of the three states as compared with that seen in control semen. In contrast, semen ALT (alanine aminotransferase) activity was reduced in men with any of these abnormalities compared with that in the controls. Semen cholesterol levels were significantly lower in men with asthenospermia as compared with control semen. Of all the measured cytokines, only IL-5 levels were reduced in the semen of the men with any of the conditions as compared with control semen. The semen of infertile males is characterized by reduced levels of calcium, magnesium, and trace metals such as zinc and selenium. The study also indicated that measures of cholesterol and of GGT/ALT activities could serve as supplementary parameters indicative of semen quality. Further investigations are needed to clarify the role of the measured parameters in sperm physiology

Oxidative Stress is Associated with Reduced Sperm Motility in Normal Semen

Infertility is among the most serious medical problems worldwide. Male factors contribute to 40%–50% of all infertility cases, and approximately 7% of men worldwide are affected by infertility. Spermatozoa are extremely vulnerable to oxidative insult. Oxidative stress results in axonemal damage and increased midpiece sperm morphological defects, which lead to reduced sperm motility. The aim of the study is to evaluate the association between sperm motility and the levels of selected antioxidants, cytokines, and markers of oxidative damage in the seminal plasma. The study group included 107 healthy males, who were split into two subgroups based on the percentage of motile spermatozoa after 1 hr: low motility (LM, n = 51) and high motility (HM, n = 56). The glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity was 52% lower in the LM group compared to that in the HM group. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was 12% higher in the LM group compared to that in the HM group. Similarly, the median values of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were higher in the LM group than those in the HM group. Results of the present study revealed that the percentage of motile spermatozoa after 1 hr correlated positively with the levels of IL-1β, IL-10, IL-12, and TNFα. The lower motility of spermatozoa in healthy men is associated with a decreased activity of G6PD and increased levels of cytokines, which may be related to increased oxidative stress in seminal plasma that manifests as an increased level of MDA