title: Physical activity, fatness, educational level and snuff consumption as determinants of semen quality: findings of the ActiART study.
abstract: In this study, the association between physical activity and other potential determinants, objectively measured by accelerometry, was examined. Sixty-two men attending an infertility clinic participated in the study. Obese men (body mass index ≥ 30) and those with a waist circumference 102 cm or more had lower semen volume than the other men (P < 0.05). Higher values in sperm parameters were observed in participants who completed university studies and those who did not consume snuff, compared with the other participants (P < 0.05). Finally, men who spent an average number of 10 min-bouts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity had significantly better semen quality than those who engaged in low or high numbers of bouts of activity (P < 0.05). No associations were found for sedentary or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity time when it was not sustained over 10 min, i.e. not in bouts. Men who have average levels of physical activity over sustained periods of 10 min are likely to have better semen quality than men who engage in low or high levels of such activity. Similarly, high levels of total and central adiposity, low educational level and snuff consumption are negatively related to semen quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Hälsovägen 7-9, NOVUM Huddinge, 14183 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Triin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pärn
authors.affiliation: PROFITH "PROmoting FITness and Health through physical activity" research group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, School of Sport Sciences, Carretera Alfacar s/n, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grau Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Akademiska Sjukhuset, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kunovac Kallak
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Hälsovägen 7-9, NOVUM Huddinge, 14183 Stockholm, Sweden; PROFITH "PROmoting FITness and Health through physical activity" research group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, School of Sport Sciences, Carretera Alfacar s/n, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Jonatan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Akademiska Sjukhuset, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Akademiska Sjukhuset, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hreinsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Akademiska Sjukhuset, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kjell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wånggren
authors.affiliation: Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tiigi 61b, 50410 Tartu, Estonia; Women's Clinic, University of Tartu, Puusepa 8, 51014 Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salumets
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Hälsovägen 7-9, NOVUM Huddinge, 14183 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sjöström
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Akademiska Sjukhuset, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anneli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stavreus-Evers
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Hälsovägen 7-9, NOVUM Huddinge, 14183 Stockholm, Sweden; PROFITH "PROmoting FITness and Health through physical activity" research group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, School of Sport Sciences, Carretera Alfacar s/n, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.affiliation: Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tiigi 61b, 50410 Tartu, Estonia; Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Avda. de Madrid, 11, 18012 Granada, Spain. Electronic address: signealtmae@ugr.es.
authors.forename: Signe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Altmäe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D055101:Semen Analysis; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless; D055105:Waist Circumference
keywords: accelerometry; adiposity; education; physical activity; semen; snuff