Diminished paternity and gonadal function with increasing obesity in men.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship of male obesity and reproductive function.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
Academic medical center.


METHODS
Eighty-seven adult men, body mass index (BMI) range from 16.1 to 47.0 kg/m(2) (mean = 29.3 kg/m(2); SD = 6.5 kg/m(2)).


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Reproductive history, physical examination, inhibin B, FSH, LH, T, and unbound T levels, and semen analysis.


RESULTS
Body mass index was negatively correlated with testosterone (r = -0.38), FSH (r = -0.22), and inhibin B levels (r = -0.21) and was positively correlated with E(2) levels (r = 0.34). Testosterone also negatively correlated with skinfold thickness (r = -0.30). There was no correlation of BMI or skinfold thickness with semen analysis parameters (sperm density, volume, motility, or morphology). Inhibin B level correlated significantly with sperm motility (r = 0.23). Men with paternity had lower BMIs (28.0 kg/m(2) vs. 31.6 kg/m(2)) and lower skinfold thickness (24.7 mm vs. 34.1 mm) than men without.


CONCLUSIONS
Obesity is an infertility factor in otherwise normal men. Obese men demonstrate a relative hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Reduced inhibin B levels and diminished paternity suggest compromised reproductive capacity in this population.
Pauli
Eric M
EM
Department of Surgery, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA. epauli@hmc.psu.edu
Legro
Richard S
RS
Demers
Laurence M
LM
Kunselman
Allen R
AR
Dodson
William C
WC
Lee
Peter A
PA
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D010808:Physical Examination; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
C422364:inhibin B; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone