1
|
Petre GC, Francini-Pesenti F, Di Nisio A, De Toni L, Grande G, Mingardi A, Cusmano A, Spinella P, Ferlin A, Garolla A. Observational Cross-Sectional Study on Mediterranean Diet and Sperm Parameters. Nutrients 2023; 15:4989. [PMID: 38068847 PMCID: PMC10707842 DOI: 10.3390/nu15234989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Infertility, affecting 15 to 25% of couples in the most developed countries, is recognized by the World Health Organization as a public health issue at a global level. Different causes are acknowledged to reduce fertility in both sexes. In particular, about 40-50% of cases recognize a male factor. Dietary habits and lifestyle are acknowledged to influence sperm quality and are therefore important modifiable factors in male reproductive health. Conditions such as overweight/obesity, impaired glucose metabolism and determinants of metabolic syndrome, together with unhealthy lifestyle behavior, i.e., smoking cigarettes and physical inactivity, are suggested to have a negative impact on male fertility. While individual elements and characteristics of the Western diet and habits are considered risk factors for male infertility, the Mediterranean diet (MD) seems to promote reproductive potential for improving sperm quality. It is also interesting to note that previous observational studies reported a positive correlation between the consumption of the single food classes of the MD pattern (i.e., vegetables and fruits, poultry, fish and seafood, whole grains, low-fat dairy products) and the quality of several sperm parameters. To evaluate the relationship between sperm parameters and MD adherence, we performed a cross-sectional study on the seminal data of 300 males (mean age 34.6 ± 9.1 years) who spontaneously referred to our center of reproductive medicine. The evaluation of adherence to MD was performed with a validated 14-point Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) questionnaire. Our findings showed that sperm parameters such as sperm count, motility, viability and normal morphology are significantly and positively correlated with MEDAS, independently of BMI and age. In addition, the application of an ROC curve on MEDAS value vs. seminal alterations identified 6.25 as the score threshold value below which altered sperm parameters were more likely to occur [AUC = 0.096 (CI: 0.059-0.133; p < 0.00)]. Therefore, adhering to the MD with at least a MEDAS score of 6.26 increases the probability of normozoospermia. Moreover, subjects who had a MEDAS value lower than 6.25 had an Odds Ratio of 6.28 (CI = 3.967-9.945) for having at least one altered sperm parameter compared to those who were more adherent to the MD. In conclusion, our findings show that a higher adherence to the MD is associated with better semen parameters, in particular in relation to sperm count, sperm concentration, typical sperm morphology, and sperm progressive motility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Cosmin Petre
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (G.C.P.); (A.D.N.); (L.D.T.); (G.G.); (A.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Francesco Francini-Pesenti
- Clinical Nutrition Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (F.F.-P.); (A.C.); (P.S.)
| | - Andrea Di Nisio
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (G.C.P.); (A.D.N.); (L.D.T.); (G.G.); (A.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Luca De Toni
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (G.C.P.); (A.D.N.); (L.D.T.); (G.G.); (A.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Giuseppe Grande
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (G.C.P.); (A.D.N.); (L.D.T.); (G.G.); (A.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Asia Mingardi
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (G.C.P.); (A.D.N.); (L.D.T.); (G.G.); (A.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Arianna Cusmano
- Clinical Nutrition Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (F.F.-P.); (A.C.); (P.S.)
| | - Paolo Spinella
- Clinical Nutrition Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (F.F.-P.); (A.C.); (P.S.)
| | - Alberto Ferlin
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (G.C.P.); (A.D.N.); (L.D.T.); (G.G.); (A.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Andrea Garolla
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (G.C.P.); (A.D.N.); (L.D.T.); (G.G.); (A.M.); (A.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Funes AK, Avena MV, Ibañez J, Simón L, Ituarte L, Colombo R, Roldán A, Conte MI, Monclus MÁ, Boarelli P, Fornés MW, Saez Lancellotti TE. Extra-virgin olive oil ameliorates high-fat diet-induced seminal and testicular disorders by modulating the cholesterol pathway. Andrology 2023; 11:1203-1217. [PMID: 36695747 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rabbits are sensitive to dietary cholesterol and rapidly develop hypercholesterolemia, leading to prominent subfertility. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein isoform 2 drives the intracellular cholesterol pathway in many tissues, including the testicles. Its abnormal regulation could be the mainly responsible for the failure of suppressing cholesterol synthesis in a cholesterol-enriched environment, ultimately leading to testicular and seminal alterations. However, extra-virgin olive oil consumption has beneficial properties that promote lowering of cholesterol levels, including the recovery of seminal parameters altered under a high-fat diet. OBJECTIVES Our goal was to investigate the effects of high-fat diet supplementation with extra-virgin olive oil at the molecular level on rabbit testes, by analyzing sterol regulatory element-binding protein isoform 2 protein and its corresponding downstream effectors. MATERIALS AND METHODS During 12 months, male rabbits were fed a control diet, high-fat diet, or 6-month high-fat diet followed by 6-month high-fat diet plus extra-virgin olive oil. Serum lipids, testosterone levels, bodyweight, and seminal parameters were tested. The mRNA and protein levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein isoform 2, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, and low-density lipoprotein receptor were determined by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting techniques. The expression pattern of sterol regulatory element-binding protein isoform 2 protein in the rabbit testicles was studied by indirect immunofluorescence. In addition, testicular cholesterol was detected and quantified by filipin staining and gas chromatography. RESULTS The data showed that the addition of extra-virgin olive oil to high-fat diet reduced testicular cholesterol levels and recovered the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein isoform 2, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, and low-density lipoprotein receptor initially altered by the high-fat diet. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The combination of high-fat diet with extra-virgin olive oil encourages testicular recovery by modifying the expression of the enzymes related to intracellular cholesterol management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abi Karenina Funes
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular del Metabolismo & Nutrición (MeNu). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
- Instituto de Histología y Embriología (IHEM), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Andrológicas de Mendoza (LIAM). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - María Virginia Avena
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular del Metabolismo & Nutrición (MeNu). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
- Instituto de Histología y Embriología (IHEM), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Andrológicas de Mendoza (LIAM). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Jorge Ibañez
- Instituto de Histología y Embriología (IHEM), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Andrológicas de Mendoza (LIAM). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Layla Simón
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular del Metabolismo & Nutrición (MeNu). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Andrológicas de Mendoza (LIAM). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Leonor Ituarte
- Área de Física Biológica, Departamento de Morfofisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Regina Colombo
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular del Metabolismo & Nutrición (MeNu). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
- Instituto de Histología y Embriología (IHEM), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Andrológicas de Mendoza (LIAM). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Adrián Roldán
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular del Metabolismo & Nutrición (MeNu). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad del Aconcagua, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - María Inés Conte
- Instituto de Histología y Embriología (IHEM), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Andrológicas de Mendoza (LIAM). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - María Ángeles Monclus
- Instituto de Histología y Embriología (IHEM), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Andrológicas de Mendoza (LIAM). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad del Aconcagua, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Paola Boarelli
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular del Metabolismo & Nutrición (MeNu). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Enfermedades Metabólicas (LEM), Universidad Juan Agustín Maza, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Miguel Walter Fornés
- Instituto de Histología y Embriología (IHEM), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Andrológicas de Mendoza (LIAM). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Tania Estefanía Saez Lancellotti
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular del Metabolismo & Nutrición (MeNu). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
- Instituto de Histología y Embriología (IHEM), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Andrológicas de Mendoza (LIAM). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad del Aconcagua, Mendoza, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bai Y, Hei N, Gao M, Dong X, Li M, Jiang S, Zhang L. LDLR heterozygous deletion reduces hamster testicular cholesterol toxicity via AMPK/Sirt1/PGC-1α pathway. Toxicol Lett 2023; 384:30-43. [PMID: 37459939 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2023.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Cholesterol is an important part of the human diet. The relationship and molecular mechanisms between intracellular cholesterol and male infertility are unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) in male infertility. Both wild-type (WT) and LDLR heterozygous deletion (LDLR+/-) male Golden Syrian hamsters were fed either a high-fat diet (HFD) or a normal diet (ND). Plasma biochemistry, serum hormone, testicular histopathology, mRNA and protein expression of AMPK/Sirt1/PGC-1α in both testicular tissue and isolated Leydig cells (LCs) were measured. Compared with the ND animals, the WT HFD hamsters developed dyslipidemia at three weeks with lipid droplets deposited in LCs, testosterone decreased at four weeks (0.440 ± 0.264 ng/ml vs. 2.367 ± 1.236 ng/ml), the number of the Sertoli cells decreased (21.578 ± 2.934/one tubule vs. 25.733 ± 3.424/one tubule), the seminiferous epithelium became thinner (0.0813 ± 0.01729 mm vs. 0.0944 ± 0.0138 mm), testicular atrophy and AMPK/Sirt1/PGC-1α pathway downregulated at five weeks. All these changes persisted until the end of the study. LDLR+/- alleviated all of the above changes by downregulating the cellular influx of cholesterol induced by HFD except for higher hyperlipidemia. In summary, excessive intracellular cholesterol inactivates AMPK/Sirt1/PGC-1α pathway firstly in LCs and then in both Sertoli and spermatids. Cholesterol toxicity was LDLR dependent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Bai
- Department of Pathology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Naiheng Hei
- Department of Pathology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Mingming Gao
- Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Xiaohui Dong
- Department of Pathology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Mingzhao Li
- Department of Pathology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Shaohao Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Lianshan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Diet and Male Fertility: The Impact of Nutrients and Antioxidants on Sperm Energetic Metabolism. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052542. [PMID: 35269682 PMCID: PMC8910394 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Diet might affect male reproductive potential, but the biochemical mechanisms involved in the modulation of sperm quality remain poorly understood. While a Western diet is considered a risk factor for male infertility, the Mediterranean diet seems to protect against male infertility; moreover, the role of a vegetarian habitus in the preservation of sperm quality is controversial. The aim of this review is to analyze the molecular effects of single nutrients on sperm quality, focusing on their involvement in biochemical mechanisms related to sperm bioenergetics. It appears that diets rich in saturated fatty acids (SFA) and low in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) negatively affect sperm quality, whereas unsaturated fatty acids supplementation ameliorates sperm quality. In fact, the administration of PUFA, especially omega-3 PUFA, determined an increase in mitochondrial energetic metabolism and a reduction in oxidative damage. Carbohydrates and proteins are also nutritional modulators of oxidative stress and testosterone levels, which are strictly linked to sperm mitochondrial function, a key element for sperm quality. Moreover, many dietary natural polyphenols differentially affect (positively or negatively) the mitochondrial function, depending on their concentration. We believe that an understanding of the biochemical mechanisms responsible for sperm quality will lead to more targeted and effective therapeutics for male infertility.
Collapse
|