Fatty acid intake in relation to reproductive hormones and testicular volume among young healthy men.
Emerging evidence suggests that dietary fats may influence testicular function. However, most of the published literature on this field has used semen quality parameters as the only proxy for testicular function. We examined the association of fat intake with circulating reproductive hormone levels and testicular volume among healthy young Spanish men. This is a cross-sectional study among 209 healthy male volunteers conducted between October 2010 and November 2011 in Murcia Region of Spain. Participants completed questionnaires on lifestyle, diet, and smoking, and each underwent a physical examination, and provided a blood sample. Linear regression was used to examine the association between each fatty acid type and reproductive hormone levels and testicular volumes. Monounsaturated fatty acids intake was inversely associated with serum blood levels of calculated free testosterone, total testosterone, and inhibin B. A positive association was observed between the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and luteinizing hormone concentrations. In addition, the intake of trans fatty acids was associated with lower total testosterone and calculated free testosterone concentrations (P trend = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively). The intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was positively related to testicular volume while the intake of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids was inversely related to testicular volume. These data suggest that fat intake, and particularly intake of omega 3, omega 6, and trans fatty acids, may influence testicular function.
Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Department of Health and Social Sciences, Division of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Murcia School of Medicine, IMIB-Arrixaca, Espinardo (Murcia), Spain.
Lidia
L
MInguez-Alarcón
Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Jorge E
JE
Chavarro
Department of Health and Social Sciences, Division of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Murcia School of Medicine, IMIB-Arrixaca, Espinardo (Murcia), Spain.
Jaime
J
Mendiola
Roca Fertility, Advanced Clinic Management SLU, Murcia, Spain.
Manuela
M
Roca
Department of Urology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Cigdem
C
Tanrikut
CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Institute of Health III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.|Department of Public Health, Miguel Hernández University, Elche-Alicante, Spain.
Jesús
J
Vioque
Department of Growth and Reproduction, University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Niels
N
Jørgensen
Department of Health and Social Sciences, Division of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Murcia School of Medicine, IMIB-Arrixaca, Espinardo (Murcia), Spain.|Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Alberto M
AM
Torres-Cantero
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D055101:Semen Analysis; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013076:Sperm Count; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids; D055815:Young Adult
D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids; C422364:inhibin B; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone