title: Serum lipid profiles are associated with semen quality.
abstract: We aimed to explore the associations between different lipid profiles and semen quality in a large-scale general male population. Sperm concentration, total sperm motility, progressive motility, and normal sperm morphology of total 7601 participants were recorded. The association of these semen parameters with the triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and very low-density lipoprotein of serum lipid profiles was analyzed. Sperm concentration was statistically positively correlated with triglyceride and very low-density lipoprotein (adjusted P = 0.001 and P = 0.005, respectively). Total sperm motility and progressive motility were statistically increased with increasing low-density lipoprotein and cholesterol levels (both adjusted P = 0.008 and P < 0.001, respectively). The similar J-shaped associations (high-low-low-high) were noted between individual lipid profile and normal sperm morphology, especially low-density lipoprotein and cholesterol with statistical significance (adjusted P = 0.017 and P = 0.021, respectively). The prevalence of abnormal total sperm motility and progressive motility was decreased in participants with high levels of cholesterol (P = 0.008 and P = 0.019, respectively), and the reverse J-shaped associations (low-high-high-low) were noted between high-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, very low-density lipoprotein, and the prevalence of abnormal normal sperm morphology (P = 0.010, P = 0.037, and P = 0.025, respectively). A high cholesterol level was associated with better sperm motility. Similar J-shaped associations were noted between all lipid profiles and normal sperm morphology; meanwhile, the reverse J-shaped trends were identified between them and abnormal normal sperm morphology prevalence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Science, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan, China.
authors.forename: Chin-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, China.
authors.forename: Shyh-Hsiang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Tang
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, China.
authors.forename: Tai-Lung
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, China.|Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan, China.
authors.forename: Hong-I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, China.
authors.forename: Chih-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Tsao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol