Parenteral supplementation of Cu, Zn and Mn enhances boars' sperm quality.

INTRODUCTION: The trace elements concentrations of blood might play a key role in the trace element concentration of seminal plasma, as well as in the improvement of semen volume and sperm morphology in boars. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of supplementation of Cu, Zn and Mn on their concentrations in blood serum and seminal plasma and sperm quality in boars. METHODS: Eighteen boars of the Duroc Jersey breed were selected and their blood and semen (54 ejaculates before supplementation) were extracted. Coinciding with the third sampling and after of blood taken, the boars were supplemented subcutaneously with 37.5 mg of Cu, 75 mg of Zn and 37.5 mg of Mn; 40 days after the supplementation the fourth sampling was taken. Cu and Zn concentrations in blood serum and seminal plasma were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while the sperm pathologies were determined by microscopy and the concentrations of Cu and Zn in blood serum and seminal plasma, and semen pathologies were compared using the t-Student test for paired samples. A simple linear correlation was made between the minerals concentration in seminal plasma with the percentage of spermatozoa with abnormal forms. RESULTS: Although the concentrations of Zn in blood serum did not show differences between sampling periods (P < 0.05), they were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the seminal plasma after supplementation as compared to its levels before supplementation. In addition, the concentrations of Cu and Zn in seminal plasma were increased (P < 0.01), and the total spermatic pathologies were reduced; especially those of the head, neck and intermediate part of the tail (P < 0.001). Besides, macrocephaly, double head and broken acrosome were the most common pathologies (P < 0.05). Moreover, parenteral supplementation of Cu, Zn and Mn was a protective factor to the presentation of ejaculates with abnormal sperm percentages higher than 10% (χ2 = 6.1544; P = 0.0131). The prevalence of abnormal shapes of boars' sperm before supplementation was 0.40; after supplementation the answer was 0.05 and the prevalence ratio was 0.13 with a confidence interval of 95% from 0.01 to 0.94. Moreover, Zn concentrations in blood serum were not correlated with those of the seminal plasma (P > 0.05, r = - 0.0353); however, the concentrations of Cu in both fluids were correlated (P < 0.05, r = 0.2254). In addition, the Zn values in the seminal plasma and the percentage of abnormal spermatozoa had a negative and highly significant correlation (P < 0.0001, r = - 0.5628). However, the Cu concentrations in the semen were not significantly correlated with the abnormal sperm forms (P > 0.05, r = 0.0200). CONCLUSION: From the present study it can be concluded that in boars fed with diets that meeting their requirements in trace minerals according to NRC (2012) [1], parenteral supplementation of 37.5 mg of Cu, 75 mg of Zn and 37.5 mg of Mn increased the Zn concentrations in the seminal plasma and reduced the sperm pathologies, which resulted in an increase of the boars' sperm quality.

El magnesio sérico en niños normotensos, pre-hipertensos, hipertensos y obesos de edad escolar / Serum magnesium in normotensive, pre-hypertensive, hypertensive and obese school-age children

RESUMEN Introducción: la hipertensión, al igual que la obesidad, es un problema de salud a nivel mundial. En los últimos años esta situación ha aumentado en la edad infantil. Existe una estrecha relación inversa entre la ingestión del magnesio en la dieta, o en su suplementación, y los niveles de presión sanguínea. En la hipertensión hay presencia de las especies reactivas del oxígeno y las defensas antioxidantes pudieran estar afectadas. Objetivos: evaluar el comportamiento de las concentraciones del magnesio en niños pre-hipertensos, hipertensos y obesos en edad escolar. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal. La muestra estuvo constituida por 501 infantes (8-11 años), los cuales se clasificaron según: los valores de presión arterial en reposo, sexo, color de la piel e índice de masa corporal. Las determinaciones del magnesio se realizaron por el método de absorción atómica con llama. Se utilizaron las pruebas: T student y U de Mann-Whinney, en la comparación de los grupos con un nivel de significación p< 0,05. Resultados: en el grupo total de niños no hubo diferencias en las concentraciones del magnesio. Los niños pre-hipertensos e hipertensos, del sexo femenino y piel blanca, de 9 años, presentaron disminución significativa de las concentraciones de magnesio. Los varones hipertensos normopesos presentaron diferencia significativa del magnesio en relación con los normotensos. No se encontró diferencia significativa en las concentraciones de magnesio al estudiar el índice de masa corporal. Conclusiones: las concentraciones de magnesio estuvieron disminuidas en los niños pre-hipertensos, hipertensos u obesos para determinados grupos de edad, sexo y color de la piel.

ABSTRACT Introduction: hypertension as obesity is considered a health problem worldwide. In recent years, this situation has increased in childhood. There is a close inverse correlation between the dietary intake of magnesium, or in its supplementation, and blood pressure levels. In hypertension, there is a presence of reactive oxygen species, as well as, antioxidant defenses may be affected. Objectives: to evaluate the manifestation of magnesium concentrations in pre-hypertensive, hypertensive and obese school-age children. Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out. The sample consisted of 501 infants (8-11 years old), which were classified according to: blood pressure values at rest, gender, skin color and body mass index. The determinations of magnesium were made using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Mann-Whitney U and Student's T Tests were used to compare groups with a significance level of p <0.05. Results: there were no differences in magnesium concentrations in the total group of children. Female pre-hypertensive and hypertensive white children aged 9 years showed a significant decrease in magnesium concentrations. Normal-weight hypertensive males had a significant difference in magnesium concentrations in relation to normotensive ones. No significant difference in magnesium concentrations was found when studying the body mass index. Conclusions: magnesium concentrations were decreased in pre-hypertensive, hypertensive or obese children for certain age groups, gender and skin color.

Serum copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium levels in mothers with offspring affected by neural tube defects: a case-control study

Background: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are important causes of infant mortality, which result from a complex interaction between genetics and environmental factors such as trace elements, which play and crucial role in the epigenetic regulation in the embryo fetal developmental program. Objectives: To measure the maternal serum levels of copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium in mothers with offspring affected by NTDs, and to examine a possible relationship between the serum concentrations of these micronutrients and occurrence of NTDs. Design: Case-controls study. Subjects and Methods: Maternal serum blood samples were obtained from 72 healthy pregnant women and 36 mothers who had NTDs affected offspring, including those alive, stillbirths and elective pregnancy' termination at Centro Provincial de Genetica in Villa Clara. Copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium levels in serum were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry and were compared between the two groups of mothers. Results: Serum zinc levels were determined to be significantly lower in the study group compared with the control group, while copper levels were significant elevated in the study group (all p values < .05). There was a negative correlation between serum zinc levels and serum copper levels. However, no association between calcium and magnesium serum levels and increased risk for the development of NTDs was observed. Conclusions: High maternal serum levels of copper and lower level of zinc during pregnancy were associated with NTDs in offspring. If folic acid supplementation is given, additional zinc supplementation should be considered for the further decrease in the recurrence risk of NTDs(AU)