Mafruha Haque, Nargish Khanom
Background: Male infertility is an important reproductive health concern and abnormalities in sperm concentration, motility and morphology may contribute to reduced fertility. Vitamin B12 plays an essential role in cellular metabolism, DNA synthesis and spermatogenesis. This study aimed to assess the association of vitamin B12 deficiency with abnormal semen parameters among infertile men. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 infertile men attending the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Socio-demographic and clinical information, serum vitamin B12 status and semen parameters were recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Associations were assessed using appropriate statistical tests, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Vitamin B12 deficiency was observed in 42 (35.0%) participants, while 62 (51.7%) had at least one abnormal semen parameter. Oligozoospermia was significantly more frequent among vitamin B12-deficient men than those with normal B12 levels (64.3% vs. 26.9%, p<0.001). Asthenozoospermia (61.9% vs. 32.1%, p=0.002) and teratozoospermia (54.8% vs. 28.2%, p=0.004) were also significantly associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. Overall abnormal semen parameters were present in 76.2% of B12-deficient men compared with 38.5% of men with normal B12 levels (p<0.001). Conclusion: Vitamin B12 deficiency was significantly associated with abnormal semen parameters among infertile men. Assessment of vitamin B12 status may be useful in the evaluation of male infertility.