SELENIUM AND FERTILITY IN ANIMALS AND MAN - A REVIEW

To evaluate the information on selenium with relation to fertility in animals and man the available literature was reviewed. Selenium is inc orporated in the sperm mitochondria capsule and may thus affect the be havior and function of the spermazoon. Se seems to be essential for no rmal spermatozoa development in both experimental animals and in lives tock and probably also in humans. Regarding selenium and female fertil ity only sparse information exists. In experimental animals a low sele nium level affects fertility in males, but little attention has been d evoted to female reproductive performance, and the data are insufficie nt for conclusion. In livestock numerous investigations have been perf ormed and the effects of selenium supplementation often in combination with other antioxidants have been evaluated but no valid conclusion c an be drawn. In general adequate nutritional supply will secure optima l reproduction in both males and females, while additional supplementa tion seems to have a negative effect. In humans contradictive informat ion is found. Both low and high sperm selenium concentrations are repo rted to have a negative influence on the number of spermatozoa and on the motility. The optimal sperm selenium concentration waits to be def ined. Some evidence indicates that a metabolic defect in a selenium in corporation into sperm cells may be associated with human infertility. No human data relating selenium to female infertility were found.