No association between body mass index and sperm DNA integrity

I Bandel; Mona Bungum; J Richtoff; J Malm; J Axelsson; H S Pedersen; J K Ludwicki; K Czaja; A Hernik; G Toft; J P Bonde; M Spanò; G Malm; T B Haugen; A. Giwercman

doi:10.1093/humrep/dev111

No association between body mass index and sperm DNA integrity

I Bandel, Mona Bungum, J Richtoff, J Malm, J Axelsson, H S Pedersen, J K Ludwicki, K Czaja, A Hernik, G Toft, J P Bonde, M Spanò, G Malm, T B Haugen, A. Giwercman

Department of Public Health

35 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

STUDY QUESTION Is overweight associated with impaired sperm DNA integrity? SUMMARY ANSWER High body mass index (BMI) is not associated with impaired sperm DNA integrity as assessed by the DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI). WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Previous studies, based on fewer subjects and including mainly subfertile men, have shown conflicting results regarding the influence of overweight and obesity on sperm DNA integrity. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This cross-sectional study was based on semen samples from 1503 men from the general population. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS We included two cohorts (cohort A and B) of military recruits (n = 275, n = 304, respectively), one group (cohort C) of fertile men and men without known fertility problems (n = 724), and one group (cohort D) of men between 19 and 40 years without known fertility problems (n = 200). In all cohorts, data were available on BMI, DFI as measured by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), standard semen characteristics, and potential confounders (age, abstinence time, smoking habits). The subjects were categorized according to BMI into four groups: underweight (<18.5 kg/m²), normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m²), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m²) and obese (≥30.0 kg/m²). Using a linear regression model, the inter-group differences in DFI were calculated. Furthermore with the normal-weight group as the reference, the odds ratios (ORs) for DFI > 20% and DFI > 30%, were calculated for the other groups. Calculations were made for the material as a whole and after exclusion of cohort C which included proven fertile men. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE We found that normal-weight men had significantly higher DFI than overweight men, with a mean difference of 1.13% (95% CI: 1.05-1.22%); P = 0.001). Overweight men had a reduced risk of having DFI ≥ 20% and DFI ≥ 30%, compared with normal-weight men; adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.61 (95% CI: 0.42-0.88; P < 0.01) and adjusted OR = 0.48 (95% CI: 0.28-0.84; P < 0.01), respectively. When excluding cohort C, the statistical significance was lost. Regarding standard semen parameters, we found that obese men had a higher percentage of progressive motile spermatozoa than normal-weight men; mean difference 1.15% (95% CI: 1.02-1.30%, P < 0.05) but the significance was lost when excluding cohort C. All other standard semen parameters were unaffected by BMI. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION A main limitation might be the cross-sectional nature of the data. Furthermore our study included a significant proportion of men with proven fertility (75% of cohort C, n = 550), and could therefore be biased toward fertility. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our study indicates that overweight per se is not associated with a higher level of sperm DNA damage. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This research has been given grants from the following: EU 5th and 7th framework program (Inuendo and Clear projects, [Contracts no. QLK4-CT-2001-00202 and FP7-ENV-2008-1-226217)]), the Swedish Research Council (Grants No. 2007-2590, 521-2004-6072 and 521-2002-3907); the Swedish Governmental Funding for Clinical Research, Skåne county council's research and development foundation, MAS Funds, University Hospital MAS Foundation in Malmö, Crafoordska Fund, Ove Tulefjords Fund, Foundation for Urological Research, Fundacion Federico SA, and Gunnar Nilssons Cancer Fund. The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Original language	English
Journal	Human Reproduction
Volume	30
Issue number	7
Pages (from-to)	1704-13
Number of pages	10
ISSN	0268-1161
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dev111
Publication status	Published - 2 Feb 2015

Keywords

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Body Mass Index
Cohort Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
DNA Fragmentation
European Union
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Obesity
Overweight
Registries
Semen Analysis
Spermatozoa
Sweden
Young Adult

UN SDGs

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

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title = "No association between body mass index and sperm DNA integrity",

abstract = "STUDY QUESTION Is overweight associated with impaired sperm DNA integrity? SUMMARY ANSWER High body mass index (BMI) is not associated with impaired sperm DNA integrity as assessed by the DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI). WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Previous studies, based on fewer subjects and including mainly subfertile men, have shown conflicting results regarding the influence of overweight and obesity on sperm DNA integrity. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This cross-sectional study was based on semen samples from 1503 men from the general population. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS We included two cohorts (cohort A and B) of military recruits (n = 275, n = 304, respectively), one group (cohort C) of fertile men and men without known fertility problems (n = 724), and one group (cohort D) of men between 19 and 40 years without known fertility problems (n = 200). In all cohorts, data were available on BMI, DFI as measured by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), standard semen characteristics, and potential confounders (age, abstinence time, smoking habits). The subjects were categorized according to BMI into four groups: underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2) and obese (≥30.0 kg/m2). Using a linear regression model, the inter-group differences in DFI were calculated. Furthermore with the normal-weight group as the reference, the odds ratios (ORs) for DFI > 20% and DFI > 30%, were calculated for the other groups. Calculations were made for the material as a whole and after exclusion of cohort C which included proven fertile men. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE We found that normal-weight men had significantly higher DFI than overweight men, with a mean difference of 1.13% (95% CI: 1.05-1.22%); P = 0.001). Overweight men had a reduced risk of having DFI ≥ 20% and DFI ≥ 30%, compared with normal-weight men; adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.61 (95% CI: 0.42-0.88; P < 0.01) and adjusted OR = 0.48 (95% CI: 0.28-0.84; P < 0.01), respectively. When excluding cohort C, the statistical significance was lost. Regarding standard semen parameters, we found that obese men had a higher percentage of progressive motile spermatozoa than normal-weight men; mean difference 1.15% (95% CI: 1.02-1.30%, P < 0.05) but the significance was lost when excluding cohort C. All other standard semen parameters were unaffected by BMI. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION A main limitation might be the cross-sectional nature of the data. Furthermore our study included a significant proportion of men with proven fertility (75% of cohort C, n = 550), and could therefore be biased toward fertility. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our study indicates that overweight per se is not associated with a higher level of sperm DNA damage. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This research has been given grants from the following: EU 5th and 7th framework program (Inuendo and Clear projects, [Contracts no. QLK4-CT-2001-00202 and FP7-ENV-2008-1-226217)]), the Swedish Research Council (Grants No. 2007-2590, 521-2004-6072 and 521-2002-3907); the Swedish Governmental Funding for Clinical Research, Sk{\aa}ne county council's research and development foundation, MAS Funds, University Hospital MAS Foundation in Malm{\"o}, Crafoordska Fund, Ove Tulefjords Fund, Foundation for Urological Research, Fundacion Federico SA, and Gunnar Nilssons Cancer Fund. The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.",

keywords = "Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Body Mass Index, Cohort Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, DNA Fragmentation, European Union, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Overweight, Registries, Semen Analysis, Spermatozoa, Sweden, Young Adult",

author = "I Bandel and Mona Bungum and J Richtoff and J Malm and J Axelsson and Pedersen, {H S} and Ludwicki, {J K} and K Czaja and A Hernik and G Toft and Bonde, {J P} and M Span{\`o} and G Malm and Haugen, {T B} and A. Giwercman",

note = "{\textcopyright} The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: [email protected].",

year = "2015",

month = feb,

day = "2",

doi = "10.1093/humrep/dev111",

language = "English",

volume = "30",

pages = "1704--13",

journal = "Human Reproduction",

issn = "0268-1161",

publisher = "Oxford Academic",

number = "7",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - No association between body mass index and sperm DNA integrity

AU - Bandel, I

AU - Bungum, Mona

AU - Richtoff, J

AU - Malm, J

AU - Axelsson, J

AU - Pedersen, H S

AU - Ludwicki, J K

AU - Czaja, K

AU - Hernik, A

AU - Toft, G

AU - Bonde, J P

AU - Spanò, M

AU - Malm, G

AU - Haugen, T B

AU - Giwercman, A.

N1 - © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: [email protected].

PY - 2015/2/2

Y1 - 2015/2/2

N2 - STUDY QUESTION Is overweight associated with impaired sperm DNA integrity? SUMMARY ANSWER High body mass index (BMI) is not associated with impaired sperm DNA integrity as assessed by the DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI). WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Previous studies, based on fewer subjects and including mainly subfertile men, have shown conflicting results regarding the influence of overweight and obesity on sperm DNA integrity. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This cross-sectional study was based on semen samples from 1503 men from the general population. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS We included two cohorts (cohort A and B) of military recruits (n = 275, n = 304, respectively), one group (cohort C) of fertile men and men without known fertility problems (n = 724), and one group (cohort D) of men between 19 and 40 years without known fertility problems (n = 200). In all cohorts, data were available on BMI, DFI as measured by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), standard semen characteristics, and potential confounders (age, abstinence time, smoking habits). The subjects were categorized according to BMI into four groups: underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2) and obese (≥30.0 kg/m2). Using a linear regression model, the inter-group differences in DFI were calculated. Furthermore with the normal-weight group as the reference, the odds ratios (ORs) for DFI > 20% and DFI > 30%, were calculated for the other groups. Calculations were made for the material as a whole and after exclusion of cohort C which included proven fertile men. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE We found that normal-weight men had significantly higher DFI than overweight men, with a mean difference of 1.13% (95% CI: 1.05-1.22%); P = 0.001). Overweight men had a reduced risk of having DFI ≥ 20% and DFI ≥ 30%, compared with normal-weight men; adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.61 (95% CI: 0.42-0.88; P < 0.01) and adjusted OR = 0.48 (95% CI: 0.28-0.84; P < 0.01), respectively. When excluding cohort C, the statistical significance was lost. Regarding standard semen parameters, we found that obese men had a higher percentage of progressive motile spermatozoa than normal-weight men; mean difference 1.15% (95% CI: 1.02-1.30%, P < 0.05) but the significance was lost when excluding cohort C. All other standard semen parameters were unaffected by BMI. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION A main limitation might be the cross-sectional nature of the data. Furthermore our study included a significant proportion of men with proven fertility (75% of cohort C, n = 550), and could therefore be biased toward fertility. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our study indicates that overweight per se is not associated with a higher level of sperm DNA damage. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This research has been given grants from the following: EU 5th and 7th framework program (Inuendo and Clear projects, [Contracts no. QLK4-CT-2001-00202 and FP7-ENV-2008-1-226217)]), the Swedish Research Council (Grants No. 2007-2590, 521-2004-6072 and 521-2002-3907); the Swedish Governmental Funding for Clinical Research, Skåne county council's research and development foundation, MAS Funds, University Hospital MAS Foundation in Malmö, Crafoordska Fund, Ove Tulefjords Fund, Foundation for Urological Research, Fundacion Federico SA, and Gunnar Nilssons Cancer Fund. The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

AB - STUDY QUESTION Is overweight associated with impaired sperm DNA integrity? SUMMARY ANSWER High body mass index (BMI) is not associated with impaired sperm DNA integrity as assessed by the DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI). WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Previous studies, based on fewer subjects and including mainly subfertile men, have shown conflicting results regarding the influence of overweight and obesity on sperm DNA integrity. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This cross-sectional study was based on semen samples from 1503 men from the general population. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS We included two cohorts (cohort A and B) of military recruits (n = 275, n = 304, respectively), one group (cohort C) of fertile men and men without known fertility problems (n = 724), and one group (cohort D) of men between 19 and 40 years without known fertility problems (n = 200). In all cohorts, data were available on BMI, DFI as measured by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), standard semen characteristics, and potential confounders (age, abstinence time, smoking habits). The subjects were categorized according to BMI into four groups: underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2) and obese (≥30.0 kg/m2). Using a linear regression model, the inter-group differences in DFI were calculated. Furthermore with the normal-weight group as the reference, the odds ratios (ORs) for DFI > 20% and DFI > 30%, were calculated for the other groups. Calculations were made for the material as a whole and after exclusion of cohort C which included proven fertile men. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE We found that normal-weight men had significantly higher DFI than overweight men, with a mean difference of 1.13% (95% CI: 1.05-1.22%); P = 0.001). Overweight men had a reduced risk of having DFI ≥ 20% and DFI ≥ 30%, compared with normal-weight men; adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.61 (95% CI: 0.42-0.88; P < 0.01) and adjusted OR = 0.48 (95% CI: 0.28-0.84; P < 0.01), respectively. When excluding cohort C, the statistical significance was lost. Regarding standard semen parameters, we found that obese men had a higher percentage of progressive motile spermatozoa than normal-weight men; mean difference 1.15% (95% CI: 1.02-1.30%, P < 0.05) but the significance was lost when excluding cohort C. All other standard semen parameters were unaffected by BMI. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION A main limitation might be the cross-sectional nature of the data. Furthermore our study included a significant proportion of men with proven fertility (75% of cohort C, n = 550), and could therefore be biased toward fertility. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our study indicates that overweight per se is not associated with a higher level of sperm DNA damage. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This research has been given grants from the following: EU 5th and 7th framework program (Inuendo and Clear projects, [Contracts no. QLK4-CT-2001-00202 and FP7-ENV-2008-1-226217)]), the Swedish Research Council (Grants No. 2007-2590, 521-2004-6072 and 521-2002-3907); the Swedish Governmental Funding for Clinical Research, Skåne county council's research and development foundation, MAS Funds, University Hospital MAS Foundation in Malmö, Crafoordska Fund, Ove Tulefjords Fund, Foundation for Urological Research, Fundacion Federico SA, and Gunnar Nilssons Cancer Fund. The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Body Mass Index

KW - Cohort Studies

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - DNA Fragmentation

KW - European Union

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Obesity

KW - Overweight

KW - Registries

KW - Semen Analysis

KW - Spermatozoa

KW - Sweden

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1093/humrep/dev111

DO - 10.1093/humrep/dev111

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25994665

SN - 0268-1161

VL - 30

SP - 1704

EP - 1713

JO - Human Reproduction

JF - Human Reproduction

IS - 7

ER -

No association between body mass index and sperm DNA integrity

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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