Ceretti Elisabetta, Bonaccio Marialaura, Iacoviello Licia, Di Castelnuovo Augusto, Ruggiero Emilia, Donato Francesco, Lorenzetti Stefano, Zani Danilo, Montano Luigi
Unit of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo NEUROMED, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy.
Nutrients. 2024 Nov 29;16(23):4129. doi: 10.3390/nu16234129.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The study aim was to evaluate the association between UPF consumption and semen quality in a sample of healthy young men in Italy.
A cross-sectional analysis was carried out using data from 126 participants (mean age ± SD 20.0 ± 1.2 years) enrolled in the FASt randomized controlled trial. Food intake was assessed through the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) FFQ. Food items were categorized according to the Nova classification based on their purpose and extent of processing as follows: (1) unprocessed/minimally processed foods; (2) processed culinary ingredients; (3) processed foods; and (4) UPFs. The weight ratio (%) between each Nova group (g/d) and total food (g/d) was then calculated. For semen analyses, sperm volume, concentration, motility and morphology were measured. The associations between UPF consumption (quarters of) and semen quality parameters were estimated using multivariable-adjusted linear regression models.
Participants consuming high UPFs (Q4), compared to those in the bottom category of intake (Q1), had a lower sperm concentration (β = -54.16 × 10 cell/mL; 95%CI: -92.91 to -15.40; for trend = 0.0020 across fourths) and progressive motility (β = -14.17%; 95%CI: -28.25 to -0.09; for trend = 0.036). The percentage of normal morphology cells had a tendency to decrease amongst subjects consuming more UPFs compared to those with the lowest intake.
A large dietary intake of UPFs was inversely associated with sperm concentration and progressive motility in reproductive-age men. These findings suggest that dietary recommendations for improving male fertility and sperm health should also recommend limiting UPFs.
背景/目的：本研究旨在评估意大利健康年轻男性样本中超加工食品（UPF）摄入量与精液质量之间的关联。
采用来自参与FASt随机对照试验的126名参与者（平均年龄±标准差20.0±1.2岁）的数据进行横断面分析。通过欧洲癌症与营养前瞻性调查（EPIC）食物频率问卷评估食物摄入量。根据诺瓦分类法，根据食物的用途和加工程度将食物项目分为以下几类：（1）未加工/最低限度加工食品；（2）加工烹饪原料；（3）加工食品；（4）超加工食品。然后计算每个诺瓦组（克/天）与总食物（克/天）之间的重量比（%）。对于精液分析，测量精子体积、浓度、活力和形态。使用多变量调整线性回归模型估计超加工食品摄入量（四分位数）与精液质量参数之间的关联。
与摄入量最低类别（Q1）的参与者相比，摄入高剂量超加工食品（Q4）的参与者精子浓度较低（β=-54.16×10⁶细胞/毫升；95%置信区间：-92.91至-15.40；四分位数间趋势P=0.0020），且前向运动能力较低（β=-14.17%；95%置信区间：-28.25至-0.09；趋势P=0.036）。与摄入量最低的参与者相比，摄入较多超加工食品的参与者中正常形态细胞的百分比有下降趋势。
超加工食品的大量饮食摄入与育龄男性的精子浓度和前向运动能力呈负相关。这些发现表明，改善男性生育能力和精子健康的饮食建议也应建议限制超加工食品的摄入。
