Dataset Information

Lipid concentrations and semen quality: the LIFE study.

ABSTRACT: The decline in sperm count rates over the last 50 years appears to parallel the rising prevalence of obesity. As lipid levels are strongly associated with obesity, high lipids levels or hyperlipidaemia may thus play an important role in the decline in fertility in addition to other environmental or lifestyle factors. The objective of this population based cohort study was to evaluate the association between men's serum lipid concentrations and semen quality parameters among 501 male partners of couples desiring pregnancy and discontinuing contraception. Each participant provided prospectively up to two semen samples (94% of men provided one or more semen samples, and 77% of men provided a second sample approximately 1 month later). Linear mixed effects models were used to estimate the associations between baseline lipid concentrations and semen quality parameters, adjusted for age, body mass index and race. We found that higher levels of serum total cholesterol, free cholesterol and phospholipids were associated with a significantly lower percentage of spermatozoa with intact acrosome and smaller sperm head area and perimeter. Our results suggest that lipid concentrations may affect semen parameters, specifically sperm head morphology, highlighting the importance of cholesterol and lipid homeostasis for male fecundity.

SUBMITTER: Schisterman EF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3999259 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Lipid concentrations and semen quality: the LIFE study.

Schisterman E F EF Mumford S L SL Chen Z Z Browne R W RW Boyd Barr D D Kim S S Buck Louis G M GM

Andrology 20140305 3

The decline in sperm count rates over the last 50 years appears to parallel the rising prevalence of obesity. As lipid levels are strongly associated with obesity, high lipids levels or hyperlipidaemia may thus play an important role in the decline in fertility in addition to other environmental or lifestyle factors. The objective of this population based cohort study was to evaluate the association between men's serum lipid concentrations and semen quality parameters among 501 male partners of ...[more]

PMID: 24596332

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Project description:BackgroundTriclosan, a widely-used antimicrobial in personal care products, has shown endocrine disrupting activity in experimental studies. However, there is limited evidence from epidemiologic studies on health effects.ObjectiveTo examine the association between urinary triclosan concentrations and semen quality.MethodsA total of 262 men enrolled in the Environmental and Reproductive Health (EARTH) Study provided 581 paired urine and semen samples (2009-2017). Urinary triclosan concentrations were quantified and semen analysis was evaluated according to WHO guidelines. We used linear mixed regression models to estimate the associations between specific gravity-adjusted urinary triclosan concentrations with semen parameters, with a random intercept to account for multiple samples per man and adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, physical activity, sexual abstinence time, and season and year of samples' collection.ResultsMen had a mean (standard deviation) age of 36.6 (5.24) years and BMI of 27.9 (5.94) kg/m2. Seventy four percent of the samples had detectable (>2.3 μg/L) concentrations. We did not observe significant dose response trends between SG-adjusted urinary triclosan concentrations and semen parameters. However, in the adjusted analysis, compared to men with non-detectable triclosan concentrations in the lowest quartile, those in the second, third, and fourth quartiles had -1.32% (95%CI: -2.04, -0.59), -0.91% (95%CI: -1.63, -0.18), and -0.46% (95%CI: -1.25, 0.33) lower percent morphologically normal sperm, respectively. Similarly, a lower percentage of morphologically normal sperm was found among men with detectable triclosan concentrations, compared to men with non-detectable triclosan [-0.96% (95% CI: -1.57, -0.35)]. In sensitivity analyses, there was stronger negative associations on the percent morphologically normal sperm in the earlier time period due to the significant negative trend in detectable triclosan concentrations over time.ConclusionDespite the lack of observed dose response relationship, we found consistent patterns of lower percent morphologically normal sperm for men with urinary triclosan in the 2nd or 3rd quartile compared to undetectable concentrations.This association was stronger for samples obtained prior to 2013 when triclosan was more often detectable in urine.

Project description:Study questionAre urinary phthalate concentrations associated with altered semen quality parameters among males recruited from the general population?Summary answerUrinary levels of metabolites of phthalate diesters are associated with lower total sperm counts, larger sperm head sizes, and higher percentages of morphologically abnormal sperm.What is known alreadyHigh dose experiments in rats implicate phthalates as anti-androgens. Studies involving infertile men seeking care suggest that phthalates influence measures of semen quality raising concern about the implications for men in the general population.Study design, size, durationThis prospective cohort study comprised 501 male partners in couples discontinuing contraception to become pregnant, who were recruited from 16 US counties using population-based sampling frameworks from 2005 to 2009.Participants/materials, setting, methodsUrine and semen samples were obtained at baseline from 473 (94%) men, of whom 378 (80%) men provided a second sample the following month. Urine was analyzed for 14 monoester metabolites of phthalate diesters by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Semen samples were analyzed for 34 quality parameters categorized as general, motility, morphology, sperm head and sperm chromatin structure.Main results and the role of chanceUrinary mono-[2-(carboxymethyl) hexyl] phthalate (MCMHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), and mono-isononyl phthalate (MNP) were significantly associated with lower total sperm counts and concentrations, larger sperm head sizes, higher proportions of megalo head sperm morphology, and/or other morphological changes. Urinary mono-methyl phthalate (MMP) and mono-cyclohexyl phthalate (MCPP) were significantly associated with lower sperm motility, and urine mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) was significantly associated with higher sperm motility.Limitations, reasons for cautionWhile adverse associations were observed, the implications of the findings for couple fecundity and fertility remain to be established. Cautious interpretation is needed in light of reliance on a single measurement of phthalate measure and no correction for multiple comparisons.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Bisphenol S (BPS) was introduced in the market as a potentially safer alternative to bisphenol A (BPA). However, there are limited studies on health effects of BPS and no epidemiologic studies on its relationship with male reproductive health outcomes, specifically semen quality. OBJECTIVE:To investigate predictors of urinary BPS concentrations and its association with semen parameters among men attending a fertility center. METHODS:This cross-sectional analysis included 158 men of couples seeking fertility treatment (2011-2017) contributing 338 paired semen and urine samples. At the time of sample collection, men completed a questionnaire on self-reported use of household products and food intake within the previous 24?h. Urinary concentrations of BPA, BPS and bisphenol F were quantified using isotope-dilution tandem mass spectrometry. Semen samples were analyzed following WHO guidelines. Multivariable mixed models were used to investigate predictors of urinary BPS concentrations and to evaluate associations between urinary BPS concentrations and semen parameters, using random intercept to account for correlation in outcomes across multiple observations per man and adjusting for abstinence time, specific gravity, age, body mass index (BMI), year of sample collection and BPA concentrations. Analyses were also stratified by BMI (?25 vs <25?kg/m2). RESULTS:Median (IQR) urinary BPS concentration was 0.30 (0.20, 0.90) ?g/L, and 76% of samples had detectable (>0.1??g/L) concentrations. Self-reported fabric softener and paint/solvent use as well as intake of beef and cheese within 24?h before urine collection were positively associated with BPS concentrations. Men with higher BPS concentrations also had significantly higher BMI. Lower semen parameters were found among men with detectable BPS concentrations, compared to men with non-detectable BPS [2.66 vs. 2.91?mL for volume (p?=?0.03), 30.7 vs. 38.3 mil/mL for concentration (p?=?0.03), 76.8 vs. 90.0 mil for total count (p?=?0.09), 43.7 vs. 47.0% for motility (p?=?0.06), and 5.42 vs. 6.77% for morphologically normal sperm (p?=?0.24)]. Some associations of BPS with lower semen parameters were only found among men with a BMI???25?kg/m2. CONCLUSIONS:We identified dietary and lifestyle factors associated with BPS exposure, suggesting potential avenues for reducing exposures. We also observed negative associations between BPS and semen parameters, especially among overweight and obese men.

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Lipid concentrations and semen quality: the LIFE study.

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Lipid concentrations and semen quality: the LIFE study.

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