Evaluation of Seminal Plasma Magnesium in Premature Ejaculation

Research Article

Open Access

Ragab N, Lotfi R^*, Ghazala W

Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology Department, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt Balague center, Barcelona, Spain

^*Corresponding authors:

Dr. Ranya Lotfi
Assistant Professor, Dermatology
Venereology and Andrology Department, Ain Shams University
34 el orouba street, Cairo, Egypt
Tel: +201001550123opk
E-mail: rkuku2000@yahoo.com

Received March 27, 2012; Published July 06, 2012

Citation: Ragab N, Lotfi R, Ghazala W (2012) Evaluation of Seminal Plasma Magnesium in Premature Ejaculation. 1: 132. doi:10.4172/scientificreports.132

Copyright: © 2012 Ragab N, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Abstract

Premature ejaculation (PE) is the most common male sexual disorder worldwide. Until now, the exact cause of PE is not identified clearly.

Aim of the work: to measure seminal magnesium level in men suffering from premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction in an attempt to clarify its role in those disorders.

Subjects and Methods: Seminal Mg was measured using atomic absorption spectrometer in 3 groups of patients; group (A) patients with premature ejaculation (PE), group (B) patients with both PE and erectile dysfunction (ED), and group (C) healthy control men.

Results: There was a highly significant difference in the mean seminal Mg level between the 3 groups, being highest in group (C) and lowest in (B). There was a highly significant negative correlation between semen Mg level and each of the age of patients and the duration of PE and ED.

Conclusion: A decrease in the level of Mg in semen within a certain range is associated with PE, while further decrease in the level is associated with both PE and ED. This study strongly suggests a role of seminal magnesium in the pathogenesis of both sexual disorders.

Keywords

Seminal plasma; Magnesium; Premature ejaculation

Abbreviations

Premature Ejaculation (PE); Erectile Dysfunction (ED); Magnesium (Mg); Intra-Ejaculatory Latency Time (IELT); International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF); the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV).

Introduction

The American Urological Association Guideline on Premature Ejaculation defines it as ejaculation that occurs sooner than desired, either before or shortly after penetration causing distress to either one or both partners [1]. In 1994, Waldinger et al. [2] introduced and defined intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) as an objective measure for ejaculation time. The IELT is defined as the time from vaginal intromission to intravaginal ejaculation. It was proposed that all men with an IELT of less than 1 minute have “definite” PE, while men with IELTs between 1 and 1.5 minutes have “probable” PE [3].

Premature ejaculation (PE), unlike erectile dysfunction (ED), affects men of all ages equally from 18 years old to the elderly. Both premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction may coexist [1]. ED is the persistent inability to attain and maintain an erection sufficient to permit satisfactory sexual performance according to The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Conference on Impotence.

Many researches reported that the pathogenesis of premature ejaculation is mostly due to psychological stress and anxiety [2], or due to organic diseases as pelvic congestion and chronic prostatitis [3]. Researchers reported that some trace elements as zinc, copper and selenium present in semen may play an important role in male sexuality [4]. Magnesium is one of the elements present in human seminal plasma. Seminal magnesium level (more than 70 mg/l) is much higher than in serum (17-24 mg/l) [5] which suggests that magnesium may play an important role in male sexuality. Magnesium (Mg) is the fourth most common cation in the body, and the second most common intracellular cation after potassium. It has a fundamental role as a co-factor in more than 300 enzymatic reactions involving energy metabolism and nucleic acid synthesis, and it is also involved in several processes including hormone receptor binding, gating of calcium channels, transmembrane ion flux and regulation of adenylate cyclase, muscle contraction, neuronal activity, control of vasomotor tone, cardiac excitability, and neurotransmitter release. In many of its actions it has been likened to a physiological calcium antagonist [6,7]. As calcium is one of the elements responsible for smooth muscle contraction of the vas deference and corpus cavernosum [8], magnesium may play a role in relaxation of smooth muscles of the male genital tract and the penis to delay the ejaculatory process and improve the erection. Therefore, and also because magnesium has such diverse biophysiologic and neuromuscular actions on different parts of the body, our objective was to measure seminal magnesium level in men suffering from premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction in an attempt to elucidate its role in those disorders.

Materials and Methods

Materials

This prospective controlled study included 3 groups of Egyptian patients with the same ethnic background. Group (A) included 20 patients aged 20 to 50 years complaining of premature ejaculation only without any other organic, sexual or psychological disorder, chosen according to (DSM-IV) criteria [5], group (B) was added after finding that some patients of group (A) had superadded ED. It consisted of 10 male patients, aged 20 to 50 years, complaining of both premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction for more than 6 months without any other organic, sexual or psychological disorder. Detailed history taking revealed that the patients complained of PE first before developing ED years after PE. Patients with ED were chosen according to IIEF where patients had low erectile function sub-scale; group (C) included 30 healthy age-matched control men, not complaining or having history of PE or any organic, sexual or psychological disorder. Their ages ranged from 22 to 49 years. Excluded from this study were patients with organic disorders, PE or ED of less than 6 months, intermittent PE or ED, or having an abnormal mental state or history of psychiatric disorders. The study was conducted in Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. An informed written consent was taken from all subjects before participating in this work. The study was approved by the ethical committee of Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Methods

Semen was analysed in all subjects according to the WHO guidelines [9]. After 3-5 days of sexual abstinence, the semen obtained by masturbation was collected into a sterile acid-washed container, using no lubricant jelly. Specimens were centrifuged at 110 g for 10 min at 4°C within 30 min of sample collection. Aliquoted samples were stored at -80°C until they were assayed. Samples were sent to Balague center (Barcelona, Spain) to have the magnesium level measured there, using the atomic absorption spectrophotometry Perkin Elmer and Shimadzu, not available in our country at that time.

Statistical Analysis

Data were analyzed using the SPSS program version 15. Results are statistically analyzed using significance test, independent t-test, ANOVA test and Pearson’s correlation test. A “P” value of 0.05 was chosen as the level of statistical significance.

Results

The normal level of Mg in seminal fluid is < 70 mg/l [5]. Results of seminal Mg level analysis in the 3 groups were as follows.

Group (A)

The 20 patients with PE only showed seminal Mg levels ranging from 41 mg/l to 69 mg/l with an average mean of 55.35 mg/l ± 8.9 and a highly significant decrease (p>0.001) when compared to group C. Patients had a mean age of 29.5 years.

Group (B)

In this group which includes 10 patients complaining of both PE and ED, the Mg level in semen showed a range of 9 mg/l to 46 mg/l with a mean of 26.5 mg/l ± 11.64, which was significantly lower when compared to patients of group A with PE only (p<0.001). Patients had a mean age of 41.7 years.

Group (C)

This group of 30 healthy control subjects showed a magnesium level< 70 mg/l in semen with a range of 70 mg/l to 141 mg/l and an average mean of 103.73 mg/l ± 22.5 with a highly significant elevation of Mg level (p<0.001) when compared to group A. Their mean age was 35.2 years.

The relation between seminal Mg level in the 3 groups is shown in table 1 which clarifies highest values of Mg in semen of healthy men without any sexual disorder (group C) and lower values of Mg in semen of patients with PE only (group A), while the lowest values of Mg in semen were found in patients with both PE and ED (group B).

Table 1: Comparison between the 3 groups regarding mean seminal Mg levels.

In this study there was a highly significant difference of the mean seminal Mg level among the 3 groups (Table 1).

There was a highly significant negative correlation (p<0.001) between semen Mg level and age of patients in groups A & B together (effect of group B) and a significant negative correlation in group B alone, but this correlation was not significant in group A due to small sample size and narrow range of ages. This negative correlation means that the more the age of the patient, the less the level of Mg in semen as shown in table 2 and figures 1 and 2. There was a highly significant negative correlation (p<0.001) between semen Mg level and duration of PE in groups A & B together, which means that the more the duration of suffering from PE, the less the level of Mg in semen (Table 2, Figures 3,4). This negative correlation was not significant for either group alone due to small sample size and narrow range of duration, hence it is significant when both groups are added together. There was a significant negative correlation between semen Mg level and duration of ED in group B, meaning that the more the duration of suffering from ED, the less the level of Mg found in semen (Table 2, Figure 5).

Table 2: Correlation between semen Mg level and each of age, duration of PE and duration of ED in group A and group B.

Figure 1: Correlation between semen Mg level (mg/l) and age in group A.

Figure 2: Correlation between semen Mg level and age in group B.

Figure 3: Correlation between semen Mg level and duration of PE in group A.

Figure 4: Correlation between semen Mg level and duration of PE in group B.

Figure 5: Correlation between semen Mg level and duration of ED in group B.

A highly significant positive correlation was found between the severity of PE expressed as IELT and the seminal Mg level in the 3 groups, thus, the lower the IELT (meaning the severer the PE), the lower the level of Mg in semen (Figures 6-8).

Figure 6: Correlation between semen Mg level and IELT in group A.

Figure 7: Correlation between semen Mg level and IELT in group B.

Figure 8: Correlation between semen Mg level and IELT in group C.

Discussion

Until now, the exact cause of PE is not identified clearly and many theories have tried to explain this sexual disorder from many aspects. Some studies postulate a role of seminal magnesium in the pathogenesis of PE [10-12].

In this study we tried to put a light spot on the role of magnesium level in semen of men suffering from PE. Three groups were included in the study, and a highly significant difference in the mean seminal Mg level was found among them, being highest in group C that consisted of healthy men without any sexual, organic or psychological disorder, followed by group A (patients complaining of PE only), and lowest values were found in group B (patients complaining of both PE and ED).

We also found that the older the age of patients, the less the level of Mg in the semen. In addition we found that the longer the duration of suffering from PE or ED, the less the level of Mg found in semen. A decrease in the level of Mg in semen within a certain range is associated with PE, while further decrease in this level is associated with both PE then ED. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between severity of PE and level of seminal Mg in the 3 groups, thus, the lower the level of Mg, the severer was the PE. All these statistically significant data strongly suggest a role of seminal magnesium in the pathogenesis of both sexual disorders.

Omu et al. in 2001 [10] analyzed the level of magnesium in three groups of men with normal semen parameters, oligo athenozoospermia and premature ejaculation and showed that there was a significant decrease in level of magnesium in semen of the group of men with PE, thus, it was concluded that magnesium is probably involved in sperm transport and PE. They explained this through a relation between electrical activity of the vas deferens and extracellular magnesium concentration as they proved that extracellular Mg²⁺ depletion enhanced the contractile response of the smooth muscles of vas deferens to electrical stimulation while increasing extracellular Mg²⁺ concentration inhibited the contractions [13].

In accordance with our study, Nikoobakht et al. [11] and Aloosh et al. [12] measured magnesium level in semen and plasma of healthy men and men with PE. The results showed a significant decrease of magnesium in semen of men with PE when compared to control cases, but there were no much differences regarding serum magnesium levels in both groups.

In premature ejaculation, low seminal magnesium with normal serum magnesium level may be due to a defect in the active transport system that transports magnesium from blood to semen or the presence of a magnesium-diminishing factor like chelating agents in the semen of the patients or a previous hypomagnesaemia caused by low consumption of magnesium that might contribute to the decline in seminal plasma magnesium levels [11,12].

Low magnesium level might manifest as uncontrolled contractility of the male genital tract, to cause premature emission and ejaculation [12]. This is explained by fact that low magnesium level stimulates angiotensin-induced aldosterone synthesis and thromboxane-A2 over-production by phospholipase-A2 activation. Engagement of thromboxane-A2 results in Ca²⁺ influx [14,15]. Elevated calcium in endothelial cells promotes phosphodiesterases and decreases G-cyclase activity [16,17] resulting in decreased NO production and release from the endothelium [14]. This decrease in nitric oxide (NO) production, which is a vascular smooth muscle relaxing factor, leads to contraction of smooth muscles of genital tract causing rapid emission and premature ejaculation [11,12]. It also leads to contraction of cavernosal smooth muscles causing a state of erectile dysfunction.

On different systems of the human body, Mg acts through many biophysiologic and neuromuscular mechanisms [7]. These actions have not been studied yet in relation to the potential role they play in the pathogenesis of PE and ED, so further studies should be conducted to clarify this role.

To best of our knowledge, this is the first study done to compare between the level of Mg in the semen of men with PE alone and that of patients having a later, additional ED and to correlate them with the age of patients and duration of each of PE and ED. We hypothesize that low seminal Mg has a pathological role in PE and with a further decrease of Mg also leads to an additional ED. This might be explained by the fact that the common pathological factor for both sexual disorders is the level of NO that leads to PE when it decreases & to PE and ED together when diminished more. This is also supported by the fact that in group B, PE occurred first before ED that took place with lowest Mg levels found in this group.

As nitric oxide is released from the nerve and endothelial cells mainly in the corpora cavernosa of the penis [18], it may act first on the nearby smooth muscles of the corpora causing relaxation and erection, thus, when nitric oxide decreases most of its amount will be consumed for having an erection and so ejaculation will be affected and compromised as only small amounts of NO will reach the distant smooth muscles of the genital tract. This will lead to increased contractions of smooth muscles of the genital tract lacking the relaxant activity that NO provides, causing a state of PE. Further decrease of nitric oxide will eventually also affects the cavernosal smooth muscles, and/or endothelial blood vessels of the corpora, so that ED may insue.

It was suggested that chronic prostatitis frequently occurs in men with PE [19]. Then it was found that Mg is significantly decreased in chronic prostatitis patients, proposing Mg as a marker of prostatitis [20]. This provides an indirect link between magnesium and prostate function in PE.

Low magnesium level also causes an increase in thromboxane A2 (TXA2) [21] which causes vasoconstriction of corporal blood vessels and thus, a state of ED. TXA2 is an important mediator of intra penile oxidative stress in relation to the erectile process [22]. Low magnesium level also leads to a decrease in prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) [21] which is a vasodilator and thus leading to a contraction of corporal blood vessels and ED. So, further controlled studies should be conducted to evaluate the role of Mg in the pathogenesis of PE and ED and to explain further possible connecting factors for both sexual disorders, using bigger sample size and wider range of ages.

Studies have showed a significant decrease of magnesium in semen of men with PE when compared to control cases, but there were no much differences regarding serum magnesium levels in both groups [11,12]. Further studies are needed to confirm that low seminal Mg level doesn’t mirror any change in serum level, thus patients might benefit more from topical or intra lesional routes rather than oral Mg supplementation.

References