Association of the serum metabolomic profile by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with sperm parameters: a cross-sectional study of 325 men

Al Rashid, K., Taylor, A., Lumsden, M. A. , Goulding, N., Lawlor, D. A. and Nelson, S. M. (2020) Association of the serum metabolomic profile by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with sperm parameters: a cross-sectional study of 325 men. F&S Science, 1(2), pp. 142-160. (doi: 10.1016/j.xfss.2020.10.003)

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether 155 circulating metabolic measures relevant to lifestyle and metabolic health are associated with sperm parameters, as measured by concentration, motility and total motile sperm count (TMSC). Study design: Cross-sectional. Setting: University Hospital. Patients: 325 men prospectively recruited between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2019. Intervention(s): Non-fasting serum lipids, lipoprotein subclasses, and low-molecular weight metabolites (including amino acids, glycolysis and inflammatory markers) were quantified by NMR spectroscopy. Detailed demographic, lifestyle, fertility and medical history and semen analysis. Main Outcome Measure(s): Associations of serum metabolic profiles with sperm parameters. Results: Participants were mean 37.2 (SD 5.7) years, with a median sperm concentration of 35 million/ml (IQR 15, 69) and median motility of 53% (IQR 42,67). 76% of men had a TMSC >15 Million, 10% 5-15 Million and 14% <5 Million. In both univariate and confounder adjusted analyses an extensive range of lipids and lipoproteins, glycolysis related metabolites, amino acids, ketone bodies, creatinine or albumin, did not show strong statistical evidence of associated with sperm concentration, motility, or the odds of having a reduced or low TMSC (all PBonferroni > 0.0029). Higher levels of glycolysis metabolites and ketone bodies were associated with increased odds of TMSC <15M compared with ≥15M (odds ratios of ∼1.2 to 1.3), and several lipids/lipoprotein concentrations appeared to protect against very low TMSC (<5M compared with ≥5M) with odds ratios of ∼0.8 or greater. Conclusion: Several metabolites exhibit potentially clinically relevant strength of association with the odds of a low TMSC and warrant replication.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by a Kuwait Government Fellowship to KA, the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol (AT, DAL, and SMN), a European Research Council grant (DevelopObese; 669545 to DAL), European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (LifeCycle; 733206 to DA), a British Heart Foundation Grant (AA/18/7/34219 to DAL) and a National Institute for Health Research Senior Investigator award (NF-0616-10102 to DAL). AT and DAL work in a Unit that receives support from the University of Bristol and the MRC (MC_UU_00011/6).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Nelson, Professor Scott and Alrashid, Karema and Lumsden, Professor Mary
• Authors: Al Rashid, K., Taylor, A., Lumsden, M. A., Goulding, N., Lawlor, D. A., and Nelson, S. M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: F&S Science
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 2666-335X
• ISSN (Online): 2666-335X
• Published Online: 13 October 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 American Society for Reproductive Medicine
• First Published: First published F&S Science 1(2): 142-160
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy