BMI in relation to sperm count: an updated systematic review and collaborative meta-analysis

N Sermondade; C Faure; L Fezeu; A Shayeb; J Bonde; T Jensen; M Van wely; Cao J; A Martini; M Eskandar; J Chavarro; S Koloszar; J Twigt; C Ramlau-Hansen; E Borges Jr; F Lotti; RPM Steegers-Theunissen; B Zorn; A Polotsky; S La Vignera; B Eskenazi; Kelton Tremellen; E Magnusdottir; I Fejes; S Hercberg; R Levy; Sebastien Czernichow

doi:10.1093/humupd/dms050

BMI in relation to sperm count: an updated systematic review and collaborative meta-analysis

N Sermondade, C Faure, L Fezeu, A Shayeb, J Bonde, T Jensen, M Van wely, Cao J, A Martini, M Eskandar, J Chavarro, S Koloszar, J Twigt, C Ramlau-Hansen, E Borges Jr, F Lotti, RPM Steegers-Theunissen, B Zorn, A Polotsky, S La VigneraB Eskenazi, Kelton Tremellen, E Magnusdottir, I Fejes, S Hercberg, R Levy, Sebastien Czernichow

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

479 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: The global obesity epidemic has paralleled a decrease in semen quality. Yet, the association between obesity and sperm parameters remains controversial. The purpose of this report was to update the evidence on the association between BMI and sperm count through a systematic review with meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic review of available literature (with no language restriction) was performed to investigate the impact of BMI on sperm count. Relevant studies published until June 2012 were identified from a Pubmed and EMBASE search. We also included unpublished data (n =717 men) obtained from the Infertility Center of Bondy, France. Abstracts of relevant articles were examined and studies that could be included in this review were retrieved. Authors of relevant studies for the meta-analysis were contacted by email and asked to provide standardized data. Results: A total of 21 studies were included in the meta-analysis, resulting in a sample of 13 077 men from the general population and attending fertility clinics. Data were stratified according to the total sperm count as normozoospermia, oligozoospermia and azoospermia. Standardized weighted mean differences in sperm concentration did not differ significantly across BMI categories. There was a J-shaped relationship between BMI categories and risk of oligozoospermia or azoospermia. Compared with men of normal weight, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for oligozoospermia or azoospermia was 1.15 (0.93-1.43) for underweight, 1.11 (1.01-1.21) for overweight, 1.28 (1.06-1.55) for obese and 2.04 (1.59-2.62) for morbidly obese men. Conclusions: Overweight and obesity were associated with an increased prevalence of azoospermia or oligozoospermia. The main limitation of this report is that studied populations varied, with men recruited from both the general population and infertile couples. Whether weight normalization could improve sperm parameters should be evaluated further.

Original language	English
Article number	dms050
Pages (from-to)	221-231
Number of pages	11
Journal	HUMAN REPRODUCTION UPDATE
Volume	19
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dms050
Publication status	Published - May 2013

Keywords

BMI
Meta-analysis
Obesity
Sperm concentration
Total sperm count

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1093/humupd/dms050

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Sermondade, N., Faure, C., Fezeu, L., Shayeb, A., Bonde, J., Jensen, T., Van wely, M., J, C., Martini, A., Eskandar, M., Chavarro, J., Koloszar, S., Twigt, J., Ramlau-Hansen, C., Borges Jr, E., Lotti, F., Steegers-Theunissen, RPM., Zorn, B., Polotsky, A., ... Czernichow, S. (2013). BMI in relation to sperm count: an updated systematic review and collaborative meta-analysis. HUMAN REPRODUCTION UPDATE, 19(3), 221-231. Article dms050. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dms050

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title = "BMI in relation to sperm count: an updated systematic review and collaborative meta-analysis",

abstract = "Background: The global obesity epidemic has paralleled a decrease in semen quality. Yet, the association between obesity and sperm parameters remains controversial. The purpose of this report was to update the evidence on the association between BMI and sperm count through a systematic review with meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic review of available literature (with no language restriction) was performed to investigate the impact of BMI on sperm count. Relevant studies published until June 2012 were identified from a Pubmed and EMBASE search. We also included unpublished data (n =717 men) obtained from the Infertility Center of Bondy, France. Abstracts of relevant articles were examined and studies that could be included in this review were retrieved. Authors of relevant studies for the meta-analysis were contacted by email and asked to provide standardized data. Results: A total of 21 studies were included in the meta-analysis, resulting in a sample of 13 077 men from the general population and attending fertility clinics. Data were stratified according to the total sperm count as normozoospermia, oligozoospermia and azoospermia. Standardized weighted mean differences in sperm concentration did not differ significantly across BMI categories. There was a J-shaped relationship between BMI categories and risk of oligozoospermia or azoospermia. Compared with men of normal weight, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for oligozoospermia or azoospermia was 1.15 (0.93-1.43) for underweight, 1.11 (1.01-1.21) for overweight, 1.28 (1.06-1.55) for obese and 2.04 (1.59-2.62) for morbidly obese men. Conclusions: Overweight and obesity were associated with an increased prevalence of azoospermia or oligozoospermia. The main limitation of this report is that studied populations varied, with men recruited from both the general population and infertile couples. Whether weight normalization could improve sperm parameters should be evaluated further.",

keywords = "BMI, Meta-analysis, Obesity, Sperm concentration, Total sperm count",

author = "N Sermondade and C Faure and L Fezeu and A Shayeb and J Bonde and T Jensen and {Van wely}, M and Cao J and A Martini and M Eskandar and J Chavarro and S Koloszar and J Twigt and C Ramlau-Hansen and {Borges Jr}, E and F Lotti and RPM Steegers-Theunissen and B Zorn and A Polotsky and {La Vignera}, S and B Eskenazi and Kelton Tremellen and E Magnusdottir and I Fejes and S Hercberg and R Levy and Sebastien Czernichow",

year = "2013",

month = may,

doi = "10.1093/humupd/dms050",

language = "English",

volume = "19",

pages = "221--231",

journal = "HUMAN REPRODUCTION UPDATE",

issn = "1355-4786",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "3",

}

Sermondade, N, Faure, C, Fezeu, L, Shayeb, A, Bonde, J, Jensen, T, Van wely, M, J, C, Martini, A, Eskandar, M, Chavarro, J, Koloszar, S, Twigt, J, Ramlau-Hansen, C, Borges Jr, E, Lotti, F, Steegers-Theunissen, RPM, Zorn, B, Polotsky, A, La Vignera, S, Eskenazi, B, Tremellen, K, Magnusdottir, E, Fejes, I, Hercberg, S, Levy, R & Czernichow, S 2013, 'BMI in relation to sperm count: an updated systematic review and collaborative meta-analysis', HUMAN REPRODUCTION UPDATE, vol. 19, no. 3, dms050, pp. 221-231. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dms050

TY - JOUR

T1 - BMI in relation to sperm count: an updated systematic review and collaborative meta-analysis

AU - Sermondade, N

AU - Faure, C

AU - Fezeu, L

AU - Shayeb, A

AU - Bonde, J

AU - Jensen, T

AU - Van wely, M

AU - J, Cao

AU - Martini, A

AU - Eskandar, M

AU - Chavarro, J

AU - Koloszar, S

AU - Twigt, J

AU - Ramlau-Hansen, C

AU - Borges Jr, E

AU - Lotti, F

AU - Steegers-Theunissen, RPM

AU - Zorn, B

AU - Polotsky, A

AU - La Vignera, S

AU - Eskenazi, B

AU - Tremellen, Kelton

AU - Magnusdottir, E

AU - Fejes, I

AU - Hercberg, S

AU - Levy, R

AU - Czernichow, Sebastien

PY - 2013/5

Y1 - 2013/5

N2 - Background: The global obesity epidemic has paralleled a decrease in semen quality. Yet, the association between obesity and sperm parameters remains controversial. The purpose of this report was to update the evidence on the association between BMI and sperm count through a systematic review with meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic review of available literature (with no language restriction) was performed to investigate the impact of BMI on sperm count. Relevant studies published until June 2012 were identified from a Pubmed and EMBASE search. We also included unpublished data (n =717 men) obtained from the Infertility Center of Bondy, France. Abstracts of relevant articles were examined and studies that could be included in this review were retrieved. Authors of relevant studies for the meta-analysis were contacted by email and asked to provide standardized data. Results: A total of 21 studies were included in the meta-analysis, resulting in a sample of 13 077 men from the general population and attending fertility clinics. Data were stratified according to the total sperm count as normozoospermia, oligozoospermia and azoospermia. Standardized weighted mean differences in sperm concentration did not differ significantly across BMI categories. There was a J-shaped relationship between BMI categories and risk of oligozoospermia or azoospermia. Compared with men of normal weight, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for oligozoospermia or azoospermia was 1.15 (0.93-1.43) for underweight, 1.11 (1.01-1.21) for overweight, 1.28 (1.06-1.55) for obese and 2.04 (1.59-2.62) for morbidly obese men. Conclusions: Overweight and obesity were associated with an increased prevalence of azoospermia or oligozoospermia. The main limitation of this report is that studied populations varied, with men recruited from both the general population and infertile couples. Whether weight normalization could improve sperm parameters should be evaluated further.

AB - Background: The global obesity epidemic has paralleled a decrease in semen quality. Yet, the association between obesity and sperm parameters remains controversial. The purpose of this report was to update the evidence on the association between BMI and sperm count through a systematic review with meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic review of available literature (with no language restriction) was performed to investigate the impact of BMI on sperm count. Relevant studies published until June 2012 were identified from a Pubmed and EMBASE search. We also included unpublished data (n =717 men) obtained from the Infertility Center of Bondy, France. Abstracts of relevant articles were examined and studies that could be included in this review were retrieved. Authors of relevant studies for the meta-analysis were contacted by email and asked to provide standardized data. Results: A total of 21 studies were included in the meta-analysis, resulting in a sample of 13 077 men from the general population and attending fertility clinics. Data were stratified according to the total sperm count as normozoospermia, oligozoospermia and azoospermia. Standardized weighted mean differences in sperm concentration did not differ significantly across BMI categories. There was a J-shaped relationship between BMI categories and risk of oligozoospermia or azoospermia. Compared with men of normal weight, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for oligozoospermia or azoospermia was 1.15 (0.93-1.43) for underweight, 1.11 (1.01-1.21) for overweight, 1.28 (1.06-1.55) for obese and 2.04 (1.59-2.62) for morbidly obese men. Conclusions: Overweight and obesity were associated with an increased prevalence of azoospermia or oligozoospermia. The main limitation of this report is that studied populations varied, with men recruited from both the general population and infertile couples. Whether weight normalization could improve sperm parameters should be evaluated further.

KW - BMI

KW - Meta-analysis

KW - Obesity

KW - Sperm concentration

KW - Total sperm count

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84876813536&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1093/humupd/dms050

DO - 10.1093/humupd/dms050

M3 - Review article

SN - 1355-4786

VL - 19

SP - 221

EP - 231

JO - HUMAN REPRODUCTION UPDATE

JF - HUMAN REPRODUCTION UPDATE

IS - 3

M1 - dms050

ER -

BMI in relation to sperm count: an updated systematic review and collaborative meta-analysis

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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