Vitamin D levels in left spermatic and peripheral veins of varicocele patients: Associations with varicocele grade and semen parameters
Abstract
Background: Varicoceles can disrupt testicular function by altering key biochemical markers, including Vitamin D (Vit-D). This study compares Vit-D levels in spermatic and peripheral venous blood of patients with varicocele and examines the relationship between laboratory findings, varicocele severity, and semen parameters. Materials and Methods: This observational study included patients with varicocele scheduled for varicocelectomy. Preoperative evaluations included serum parathyroid hormone, Vit-D, calcium levels, and semen analysis. During surgery, a blood sample was collected from the left spermatic vein before vein closure to measure Vit-D levels. Results: Eighty-two patients, with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 31.9 (6.1) years, were studied. Mean (SD) Vit-D levels in the peripheral and left spermatic veins were 32.9 (9.6) and 31.9 (10.5) ng/mL, respectively, with no significant difference (P = 0.34). Patients with Grade III varicocele had significantly lower Vit-D levels in the left spermatic than peripheral veins (29.9 vs. 32.3 ng/mL, P = 0.032). No such difference was observed in total patients or patients with lower-grade varicoceles (P > 0.05). In the assessment of semen analysis results, sperm concentration showed weak positive correlations with Vit-D in both veins (peripheral vein: r = 0.23, P = 0.040; left spermatic vein: r = 0.21, P = 0.06). Other serum markers and varicocele grade showed no significant relationship with semen analysis parameters (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with Grade III varicocele exhibit lower Vit-D levels in the left spermatic vein than in the peripheral vein, a finding not observed in milder varicocele grades. This finding suggests a potential association between severe varicocele and decreased spermatic vein Vit-D levels.
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BibTeX
@article{nazarpour2026vitamin,
title = {{Vitamin D levels in left spermatic and peripheral veins of varicocele patients: Associations with varicocele grade and semen parameters}},
author = {Mohammad Javad Nazarpour and Morteza Hamidi and Farshad Gholipour and Hossein Dialameh and Mehrzad Gholampourdehaki and Mohammad Hassan Kazemi-Galougahi and Farshad Namdari},
journal = {Journal of Research in Medical Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.4103/jrms.jrms_1064_25},
url = {https://doi.org/10.4103/jrms.jrms_1064_25},
note = {CC BY-NC-SA},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Vitamin D levels in left spermatic and peripheral veins of varicocele patients: Associations with varicocele grade and semen parameters
AU - Mohammad Javad Nazarpour
AU - Morteza Hamidi
AU - Farshad Gholipour
AU - Hossein Dialameh
AU - Mehrzad Gholampourdehaki
AU - Mohammad Hassan Kazemi-Galougahi
AU - Farshad Namdari
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
DO - 10.4103/jrms.jrms_1064_25
UR - https://doi.org/10.4103/jrms.jrms_1064_25
AB - Background: Varicoceles can disrupt testicular function by altering key biochemical markers, including Vitamin D (Vit-D). This study compares Vit-D levels in spermatic and peripheral venous blood of patients with varicocele and examines the relationship between laboratory findings, varicocele severity, and semen parameters. Materials and Methods: This observational study included patients with varicocele scheduled for varicocelectomy. Preoperative evaluations included serum parathyroid hormone, Vit-D, calcium levels, and semen analysis. During surgery, a blood sample was collected from the left spermatic vein before vein closure to measure Vit-D levels. Results: Eighty-two patients, with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 31.9 (6.1) years, were studied. Mean (SD) Vit-D levels in the peripheral and left spermatic veins were 32.9 (9.6) and 31.9 (10.5) ng/mL, respectively, with no significant difference (P = 0.34). Patients with Grade III varicocele had significantly lower Vit-D levels in the left spermatic than peripheral veins (29.9 vs. 32.3 ng/mL, P = 0.032). No such difference was observed in total patients or patients with lower-grade varicoceles (P > 0.05). In the assessment of semen analysis results, sperm concentration showed weak positive correlations with Vit-D in both veins (peripheral vein: r = 0.23, P = 0.040; left spermatic vein: r = 0.21, P = 0.06). Other serum markers and varicocele grade showed no significant relationship with semen analysis parameters (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with Grade III varicocele exhibit lower Vit-D levels in the left spermatic vein than in the peripheral vein, a finding not observed in milder varicocele grades. This finding suggests a potential association between severe varicocele and decreased spermatic vein Vit-D levels.
SN - 1735-1995
SN - 1735-7136
ER -