Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: It has been suggested that BMI, especially above 30, is associated with subfertility in men. At the same time validity of BMI to distinguish variability in body composition, have been questioned (MacDonald, 2010). In our study, we employed more accurate surrogate measures of adiposity to investigate the relations of semen parameters and reproductive hormones with waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR).

Methods: During 2010–2011 male partners of pregnant women were invited to participate in this study. A total of 260 men were divided into three groups according to their WC: <94 cm; 94–102 cm; ≥102 cm and into two groups according to their WHtR: <0.5; ≥0.5 (Ashwell, 2011). Semen was collected by masturbation and sperm parameters were analyzed according to WHO criteria. Patient height, weight, WC, and WHtR were recorded. Body composition was determined using TANITA Corporation (TBF-300MA). Blood samples were collected for sex hormones. Data analyses were performed using the SPSS 20.0. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05.

Results: The mean age of the 260 men was 32 years. WC and WHtR were inversely related to testosterone levels. Men with WC≥102 cm and with WHtR≥0.5 had lower total sperm count than did men with a WC<94 cm and with WHtR<0.5. WC and WHtR were related neither to estradiol, FSH, and LH levels nor to sperm volume, concentration, motility or morphology.

Conclusions: Our preliminary results suggest that visceral adiposity (as assessed by increased WC above 94 cm and WHtR≥0.5) is specifically associated with lower testosterone levels. Men with WC≥102 cm and with WHtR≥0.5 are also increased risk of lower total sperm count.

References: MacDonald A et al. 2010 The impact of body mass index on semen parameters and reproductive hormones in human males. Human reproduction update, 16(3).

Ashwell M 2011 Charts based on body mass index and waist-to-height ratio to assess the health risks of obesity: a review. The Open Obesity Journal, 3, 78–84.