Improvements in sperm motility following low or high intensity dietary interventions in men with obesity.
Aditi Sharma, Nikoleta Papanikolaou, Sara Abou Sherif, Anastasia Dimakopolou, Thilipan Thaventhiran, Cara Go, Olivia Holtermann Entwistle, Adrian Brown, Rong Luo, Rama Jha, Anavi Prakash, Dalia Khalifa, Hannah Lewis, Sruthi Ramaraju, Anthony R Leeds, Harvinder Chahal, Sanjay Purkayastha, Ralf Henkel, Sukhbinder Minhas, Gary Frost, Waljit S Dhillo, Channa N Jayasena- Biochemistry (medical)
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Endocrinology
- Biochemistry
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Abstract
Introduction
Obesity increases risks of male infertility, but bariatric surgery does not improve semen quality. Recent uncontrolled studies suggest that low energy diet (LED) improves semen quality. Further evaluation within a randomized, controlled setting is warranted.
Methods
Men with obesity (18-60 years) with normal sperm concentration (normal-count) (n = 24) or oligozoospermia (n = 43) were randomised 1:1 to either 800Kcal/day LED for 16-weeks, or control, brief dietary intervention (BDI) with 16-weeks’ observation. Semen parameters were compared at baseline and 16-weeks.
Results
Mean age of normal-count men was 39.4 ± 6.4 in BDI and 40.2 ± 9.6 years in LED group. Mean age of oligozoospermic men was 39.5 ± 7.5 in BDI and 37.7 ± 6.6 years in LED group. LED caused more weight loss compared with BDI in normal-count (14.4 vs 6.3 kg; P < 0.001) and oligozoospermic men (17.6 vs 1.8 kg; P < 0.001). Compared with baseline, in normal-count men total motility (TM) increased 48 ± 17% to 60 ± 10% (P < 0.05) after LED, and 52 ± 8% to 61 ± 6% (P < 0.0001) after BDI; progressive motility (PM) increased 41 ± 16% to 53 ± 10% (P < 0.05) after LED, and 45 ± 8% to 54 ± 65% (P < 0.001) after BDI. In oligozoospermic men compared with baseline: TM increased 35%[26] to 52%[16] (P < 0.05) after LED, and 43%[28] to 50%[23] (P = 0.0587) after BDI; PM increased 29%[23] to 46%[18] (P < 0.05) after LED, and 33%[25] to 44%[25] (P < 0.05) after BDI. No differences in post-intervention TM or PM were observed between LED and BDI groups, in normal-count or oligozoospermic men.
Conclusion
LED or BDI may be sufficient to improve sperm motility in men with obesity. The effects of paternal dietary intervention on fertility outcomes require investigation.