Search

Background Objectives Material and methods Results Conclusion Although some studies have investigated the relationships between beverage intake and reproductive health these have generated conflicting results.To evaluate the associations between men's beverage intake and semen quality parameters and couple outcomes of medically assisted reproduction.The relationship between preconception beverage intake and semen quality was evaluated in 896 semen samples from 343 men. The relation between beverage intake and medically assisted reproduction outcomes (fertilization, implantation, clinical pregnancy, total/clinical pregnancy loss, and live birth) was evaluated in 296 men and their female partners who underwent 714 medically assisted reproduction cycles: 306 intrauterine insemination cycles and 408 in vitro fertilization. Intake of caffeinated, alcoholic, sugar‐sweetened, and artificially sweetened beverages and sub‐groups were considered as exposures.Caffeinated, alcoholic, sugar‐sweetened, and artificially sweetened beverage intake was not associated with semen quality parameters or with fertilization, implantation, clinical pregnancy, or live birth in couples undergoing medically assisted reproduction. When specific types of beverages were explored, there was an inverse association between a greater intake of coffee/tea with caffeine and lower live birth probabilities in couples undergoing in vitro fertilization cycles. The adjusted probabilities (95% confidence interval) of live birth in the lowest and highest tertiles of intake were 0.49 (0.38, 0.61) and 0.33 (0.24, 0.43) for coffee with caffeine, and 0.49 (0.33, 0.51) and 0.31 (0.22, 0.41) for tea with caffeine. A similar trend was detected with liquor intake and live birth probabilities: 0.45 (0.37, 0.53) and 0.32 (0.25, 0.41). We also found an association between a greater beer intake and higher live birth probabilities. The adjusted probabilities (95% confidence interval) in the lowest and highest quartile of intake were 0.32 (0.23, 0.42) and 0.51 (0.39, 0.62).Male preconception intakes of coffee, tea, and liquor were inversely associated, whereas beer intake was positively associated with the probability of live birth during infertility treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objective Materials and methods Results Conclusions Dietary patterns may affect sperm quality, but the scientific evidence is limited.To evaluate the association between adherence to different a‐priori dietary patterns and sperm quality parameters in healthy reproductive‐age men.A cross‐sectional analysis was conducted using data from 200 young men enrolled in the Led‐Fertyl study. Tertiles of six a‐priori dietary patterns were estimated: four healthy dietary patterns [Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Healthful Plant‐Based Diet Index (hPDI) and EAT‐Lancet Score], and two unhealthy dietary patterns [Western Diet and Unhealthful Plant‐Based Diet Index (uPDI)]. Sperm quality parameters (count, concentration, vitality, total and progressive motility, and normal morphology) were considered the main outcomes.Compared with the lowest tertile, participants in the highest MEDAS tertile had higher total sperm count (β = 3.2;95%CI: 1.0, 5.5) and concentration (β = 1.8;95%CI: 0.6, 3.0), and total (β = 8.2;95%CI: 1.3, 15.1) and progressive motility (β = 7.1;95%CI: 0.2, 14.0). Similarly, participants in the highest hPDI tertile had higher total sperm count (β = 3.4;95%CI: 1.4, 5.5) and concentration (β = 1.2;95%CI: 0.0, 2.3) compared with those in the lowest tertile. When these dietary patterns were modelled as continuous variables (for each 1‐point increment in the specific score), an inverse association was found between the uPDI and Western and total sperm count [(β = ‐2.7;95%CI: ‐4.8, ‐0.7) and (β = ‐3.8;95%CI: ‐5.8, ‐1.7), respectively] and sperm concentration [(β = ‐1.2;95%CI: ‐2.4, ‐0.1) and (β = ‐1.7;95%CI: ‐2.8, ‐0.5), respectively]. Compared with participants in the lowest tertile, those in the highest uPDI tertile presented higher odds of abnormal sperm concentration (OR: 4.6;95%CI: 1.0, 19.9) and one or more seminogram abnormalities (OR: 2.3;95%CI: 1.1, 5.0).Our findings suggest that higher adherence to healthy dietary patterns (Mediterranean and healthful plant‐based diet) was positively associated with better sperm quality parameters, in contrast, greater adherence to unhealthy dietary patterns was inversely associated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Could sperm and leukocyte telomere length (TL) be associated with sperm quality parameters and reproductive health in men from the general population? SUMMARY ANSWER A positive association between sperm and leukocyte TL with sperm concentration and total count has been demonstrated. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Male factors account for almost half of cases of couple infertility, and shorter TLs have been observed in sperm from men with impaired sperm parameters. However, evidence in men from the general population is limited. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A total of 200 volunteers of reproductive age were recruited between February 2021 and April 2023 to participate in the Lifestyle and Environmental Determinants of Seminogram and Other Male Fertility-Related Parameters (Led-Fertyl) cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS TLs in sperm and leukocytes were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in 168 and 194 participants, respectively. Sperm parameters, including concentration, total count, motility, vitality, and morphology, were analyzed using a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) SCA® system according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 guidelines. Multivariable regression models were performed to assess the associations between sperm and leukocyte TL, either in tertiles or as continuous variables, and sperm quality parameters while adjusting for potential confounders. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Participants in tertiles 2 (T2) and 3 (T3) of sperm TL showed a higher sperm concentration (β: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.09–2.09 and β: 2.06; 95% CI: 1.04–3.09 for T2 and T3, respectively; P -trend < 0.001), compared to those in the reference tertile (T1). Participants in the highest tertile of sperm TL showed higher total sperm count (β: 3.83; 95% CI: 2.08–5.58 for T3 vs T1; P -trend < 0.001). Participants in the top tertile of leukocyte TL showed higher sperm concentration (β: 1.49; 95% CI: 0.44–2.54 for T3 vs T1; P -trend = 0.004), and total count (β: 3.49; 95% CI: 1.62–5.35 for T3 vs T1; P -trend < 0.001) compared with participants in T1. These results remained consistent when sperm and leukocyte TL were modelled as continuous variables. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION One limitation is the impossibility of establishing a cause–effect relationship due to the cross-sectional study design. Additionally, the sample size of the study cannot be considered large. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Sperm and leukocyte TLs are associated with sperm quality parameters in the general population. Additional determinations and further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying these associations and to investigate the further implications. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The Led-Fertyl study was supported by the Spanish government's official funding agency for biomedical research, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), through the Fondo de Investigación para la Salud (FIS) and co-funded by the European Union ERDF/ESF, 'A way to make Europe'/'Investing in your future' (PI21/01447), and the Diputació de Tarragona (2021/11-No.Exp. 8004330008-2021-0022642). J.S.-S. senior author of the present study, is partially supported by ICREA under the ICREA Academia program. M.F.d.l.P. was supported by a predoctoral grant from the Rovira i Virgili University and Diputació de Tarragona (2020-PMF-PIPF-8). C.V.-H. received a predoctoral grant from the Generalitat de Catalunya (2022 FI_B100108). M.Á.M. was supported by the Sara Borrell postdoctoral fellowship (CD21/00045—Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)). All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Telomeres are essential for the integrity of chromosome ends during cell division and their involvement in different processes linked to aging has been established. These chromosome components are involved in spermatogenesis and seem to play an important role in fertilization and embryo development. Telomere length is shortened with each cell division. Recently, short sperm telomere length has been proposed as a potential biomarker of male infertility. Objectives: To conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis of studies exploring the association between spermatozoa and/or leukocyte telomere length with sperm quality parameters and different infertility conditions. Material and methods: A systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted with studies from Medline‐PUBMED and Cochrane Library databases until May 2022. Eligible studies included cohort, cross‐sectional and case–control studies, and telomere length in spermatozoa and/or leukocytes cells was defined as the exposure. Semen quality parameters or infertility conditions (e.g., oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia, or other spermatogenic impairment combinations) were defined as the outcomes. Results: Twenty‐three observational studies were included. In the qualitative analysis, high heterogeneity was observed between studies regarding the associations between telomere length and semen parameters in different normozoospermic/fertile and oligozoospermic/infertile populations. In the meta‐analysis, spermatozoa and leukocyte telomere length were shorter in infertile individuals than in fertile individuals (mean difference [95% confidence interval]: –1.43 [–1.66 to –1.21], p‐value <0.001 and –1.67 [–2.02 to –1.31], p‐value <0.001, respectively). Moreover, in terms of sperm telomere length, these differences were also significant between individuals with a normal seminogram and individuals with a low quantity of spermatozoa in the ejaculate (–0.97 [–1.32, –0.61], p‐value <0.001). Conclusion: The current systematic review and meta‐analysis suggests the potential role of spermatozoa or leukocyte telomere length as a reliable biomarker of semen quality, which may help distinguish between infertility conditions beyond the routine semen analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]