Vitamin-D Deficiency and Male Reproduction

Purpose: Vitamin D (VD) can be considered a functional steroid hormone with a well-established effect on musculoskeletal health. The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the role of vitamin D in male reproduction, presenting current evidence from experimental animal and human studies. The basis of this interplay lays on the presence of Vitamin D-Receptor (VDR) and Vitamin D (VD) metabolizing enzymes in testis and male reproductive tract. Methods: Using PubMed, we searched for publications during the last 30 years that investigated the role of vitamin D in male reproduction. Results: Evidence from animal and human studies suggests a possible role of vitamin D in male reproduction. Epidemiological studies suggest a positive association between 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] and semen parameters and androgen levels. On the other hand, several studies reported that high vitamin D levels may have a negative effect on gonadal function. Conclusions: Further large prospective studies are warranted to prove a casual relationship between vitamin D and male reproduction and the impact of vitamin D supplementation on gonadal function.