Evaluation of Selected Trace Elements and Glutathione Peroxidase Levels in Female Infertility

Infertility is an important world-wide reproductive disorder and some couples are being affected everyday as the population increases. The study aimed to evaluate the levels of selected trace elements (zinc, magnesium, selenium) and glutathione peroxidase in female subjects diagnosed with infertility. The study investigated a total of 90 subjects; 25 subjects diagnosed of primary infertility, 25 subjects diagnosed with secondary infertility and 40 apparently healthy individuals which served as the control group within the age range of 20-45years. Samples were obtained from the patients who attended the obstetrics and gynecology department, Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) were estimated using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS), magnesium (Mg) was estimated spectrophotometrically, while glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was evaluated using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), were significantly lower (P<0.05) in subjects with infertility in relation to the control subjects, while selenium (Se) was found to be significantly higher (P<0.05) in subjects with infertility compared with control subjects. Selenium (Se) and magnesium (Mg) were significantly lower (P<0.05) in subjects diagnosed with primary infertility compared with subjects diagnosed with secondary infertility. No significant difference (P<0.05) was found in serum zinc (Zn) levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) between subjects with primary and secondary infertility. The study concluded that the parameters are useful and should be included in the routine assessment, diagnosis and monitoring of cases of infertility.