title: Male caffeine and alcohol intake in relation to semen parameters and in vitro fertilization outcomes among fertility patients.
abstract: Much of the literature on the impact of male caffeine and alcohol intake on reproductive outcomes has utilized semen quality as a proxy for male fertility, although semen parameters have a limited predictive value for spontaneous pregnancy. The objective of this study was to investigate whether male caffeine and alcohol intakes are associated with semen parameters and assisted reproductive technology outcome. The Environment and Reproductive Health Study, an ongoing prospective cohort study, enrolls subfertile couples presenting for treatment at an academic fertility center (2007-2012). A total of 171 men with 338 semen analyses and 205 assisted reproductive technology cycles were included in this analysis. Diet was assessed using a 131-item food frequency questionnaire. Mixed models adjusting for potential confounders were used to evaluate the relationships of male caffeine and alcohol intakes with semen parameters and assisted reproductive technology outcomes. There was no association between male caffeine and alcohol intake and semen quality. Male caffeine intake was negatively related to live birth after assisted reproductive technologies (p-trend < 0.01), and male alcohol intake was positively related to live birth after assisted reproductive technologies (p-trend = 0.04). Adjusted live birth rate among couples with a male partner in the highest quartile of caffeine intake (≥272 mg/day) compared to couples with a male partner in the lowest quartile of intake (<99 mg/day) was 19% vs. 55%, respectively, p < 0.01. In terms of alcohol intake, adjusted live birth rate among couples with a male partner in the highest quartile of alcohol intake (≥22 g/day) compared to couples with a male partner in the lowest quartile of intake (<3 g/day) was 61% vs. 28%, respectively, p = 0.05. In conclusion, male pre-treatment caffeine and alcohol intakes were associated with live birth after assisted reproductive technologies, but not with semen parameters, among fertility patients.
authors.affiliation: Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Karmon
authors.affiliation: Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Y-H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.|Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gaskins
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tanrikut
authors.affiliation: Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.|Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.|Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.|Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.|Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Chavarro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine
keywords: alcohol; assisted reproduction; caffeine; male fertility; semen quality