Therapeutic potential of goat whey protein hydrolysate and vitamin-D3 in combating D-galactose-induced sperm senescence in male mice

Satish Kumar; Ramandeep Kaur; Vishvas Gohil; Fathima Jasmin A T; Ashutosh; Sunita Meena

doi:10.1016/j.xfss.2026.03.003

Therapeutic potential of goat whey protein hydrolysate and vitamin-D₃ in combating D-galactose-induced sperm senescence in male mice

F S Sci. 2026 Jul;7(4):276-286. doi: 10.1016/j.xfss.2026.03.003. Epub 2026 Mar 14.

Authors

Satish Kumar¹, Ramandeep Kaur², Vishvas Gohil³, Fathima Jasmin A T¹, Ashutosh⁴, Sunita Meena⁵

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Biofunctional Peptidomics & Metabolic Syndrome (BPMS Lab-150), Animal Biochemistry, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (Deemed University), Karnal, Haryana, India.
² Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (Deemed University), Karnal, Haryana, India.
³ Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (Deemed University), Karnal, Haryana, India.
⁴ Animal Physiology, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (Deemed University), Karnal, Haryana, India.
⁵ Laboratory of Biofunctional Peptidomics & Metabolic Syndrome (BPMS Lab-150), Animal Biochemistry, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (Deemed University), Karnal, Haryana, India. Electronic address: sunitameena1188@gmail.com.

PMID: 41833823
DOI: 10.1016/j.xfss.2026.03.003

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic synergistic effect of goat whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) and vitamin-D₃ (Vit-D₃) in mitigating the adverse effects of D-galactose-induced sperm senescence in male mice (effects on sperm quality and reproductive health of male mice).

Design: Controlled experiment animal study conducted on male Swiss albino mice to assess the synergistic effects of WPH and Vit-D₃ against D-galactose-induced sperm senescence.

Subjects: The present in vivo study was designed to evaluate the synergistic effect of WP, WPH, and Vit-D₃ on sperm function and motility in male mice. In this study, 48 male Swiss albino mice were randomly assigned to eight groups.

Exposure: To induce aging in mice, a solution of 0.9% saline containing D-galactose (150 mg/kg body weight) was injected intraperitoneally for 8 weeks. In this experiment, 48 male Swiss albino mice were randomly categorized into eight groups (I: control; II: D-Galactose (150 mg/kg body weight), Group III: Vit-C (300 mg/kg body weight), Group IV: WP (800 mg/kg body weight), Group V: WPH (800 mg/kg body weight), Group VI; Vit-D₃ (2 ng/μL oral), Group VII; WP+ Vit-D₃, and Group VIII; WPH+Vit-D_3. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Evaluation of sperm quality parameters: sperm survival, sperm progressive motility, hypo-osmotic swelling test analysis, and testosterone level.

Results: Results indicate a significant increase in the ratio of sperm survival, sperm progressive motility, and testosterone level by supplementation of WP, WPH, and Vit-D₃. These exposures, including dietary supplementation, have demonstrated promising results in mitigating the effects of aging on the reproductive health of mice.

Conclusion: This study contributes to enhanced male reproductive health by diminishing the impact of senescence-induced male infertility and could be considered a potential therapeutic approach for healthy male reproduction.

Keywords: Whey protein hydrolysate; oxidative stress; reproductive aging; sperm senescence; vitamin-D(3).

MeSH terms

Animals
Cellular Senescence* / drug effects
Cholecalciferol* / pharmacology
Galactose*
Goats
Male
Mice
Protein Hydrolysates* / pharmacology
Sperm Motility / drug effects
Spermatozoa* / drug effects
Whey Proteins* / chemistry
Whey Proteins* / pharmacology

Substances

Galactose
Whey Proteins
Cholecalciferol
Protein Hydrolysates