Diagnostic value of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in human seminal plasma

Received 13 November 2007; received in revised form 2 January 2008; accepted 2 January 2008. published online 04 March 2008.

Objective

To establish cutoff value, sensitivity, specificity and intra- and interobserver variability of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in seminal plasma from healthy donors (controls) and infertile patients.

Design

Seminal plasma from proven fertile donors (n = 55), nonproven fertile donors (n = 45), and infertile patients (n = 42) were examined for TAC level.

Setting

Reproductive research center in a tertiary care hospital.

Patient(s)

Infertile patients from male infertility clinic of various diagnoses.

Intervention(s)

Seminal plasma TAC measurement by a colorimetric assay using the TAC assay kit, receiver operating characteristics curve.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Seminal plasma TAC levels, cutoff value, sensitivity, and specificity.

Result(s)

Proven fertile donors showed higher TAC values (median and range): 1700 (1440–2290 μM); compared with the infertile patients: 1310 (1040–1600 μM). The best cutoff to distinguish between fertile controls and infertile men was 1420 μM. At this threshold, specificity was 64% and sensitivity 76%.

Conclusion(s)

Total antioxidant capacity of the seminal plasma as measured by the colorimetric assay is a reliable and simple test for the diagnosis and management of male infertility.

Key Words: Seminal plasma, male infertility, oxidative stress, receiver operating characteristic curve, total antioxidant capacity

a Reproductive Research Center, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio

b Department of Obstetrics–Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio

Reprint requests: Ashok Agarwal, Ph.D., HCLD, Reproductive Research Center, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Desk A19.1, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 (FAX: 216-445-6049).

R.M. has nothing to disclose. R.S. has nothing to disclose. E.S. nothing to disclose. A.A. has nothing to disclose.

Presented at the 63rd annual meeting of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, Washington, DC, October 13–17, 2007.

Research support provided by the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute and Cleveland Clinic Research Programs Committee.

PII: S0015-0282(08)00003-4

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.01.022

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