Serum lipid profiles are associated with semen quality

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Clinical Biochemistry
• Men's Health

Background:

• Lipid profiles are crucial indicators of metabolic health.
• Semen quality is a key factor in male fertility.
• The relationship between specific lipid profiles and comprehensive semen parameters in a large male population requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations between various serum lipid profiles and semen quality parameters.
• To analyze the impact of triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and very low-density lipoprotein on sperm concentration, motility, and morphology.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of semen parameters (concentration, motility, morphology) from 7601 male participants.
• Statistical correlation analysis between semen parameters and serum lipid profiles (triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL).
• Assessment of J-shaped and reverse J-shaped associations between lipid profiles and semen quality metrics.

Main Results:

• Sperm concentration positively correlated with triglyceride and very low-density lipoprotein.
• Total and progressive sperm motility increased with higher low-density lipoprotein and cholesterol levels.
• J-shaped associations were observed between lipid profiles and normal sperm morphology, with significant findings for LDL and cholesterol.

Conclusions:

• Specific lipid profiles, particularly cholesterol and LDL, are significantly associated with semen quality in men.
• Higher cholesterol levels may be linked to improved sperm motility.
• Understanding these lipid-semen quality relationships can inform male reproductive health strategies.