Veselinović Aleksandra, Zeković Milica, Paunović Marija, Šorak Marija, Ristić-Medić Danijela, Vučić Vesna
Cognitive Neuroscience Department, Research and Development Institute "Life Activities Advancement Institute", Belgrade, Serbia.
Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Institute for Experimental Phonetics and Speech Pathology, Belgrade, Serbia.
Biol Trace Elem Res. 2025 Apr 16. doi: 10.1007/s12011-025-04615-z.
Infertility is a multifaceted and pressing global health challenge, with male reproductive impairment playing a significant role in its overall burden. Zinc (Zn), a biologically indispensable trace element, is fundamental to spermatogenesis and overall male reproductive function. This narrative review explores the following aspects: (1) the mechanistic function of Zn in spermatogenesis, (2) the impact of oxidative stress on Zn status and male infertility, (3) the interplay between Zn and lipid metabolism in male reproductive physiology, (4) the relationship between Zn concentrations and semen parameters, and (5) the effects of Zn supplementation on sperm quality, alongside relevant institutional recommendations. The molecular pathways underlying Zn deficiency-induced enzymatic dysfunction, oxidative stress, and lipid homeostasis disruption remain partially elucidated, warranting further investigation into their interdependent effects on male infertility. While accumulating evidence suggests that Zn supplementation may have therapeutic potential in male infertility management, guidelines for its clinical application vary considerably across institutions and regions. To establish a clear and evidence-based framework for the function of Zn in male reproductive health, future research should prioritize determining of optimal Zn levels, the mechanistic links between Zn and lipid metabolism, and the long-term clinical outcomes of Zn supplementation in infertile populations.
不孕症是一个多方面且紧迫的全球健康挑战，男性生殖功能障碍在其总体负担中起着重要作用。锌（Zn）是一种生物学上不可或缺的微量元素，对精子发生和男性整体生殖功能至关重要。本叙述性综述探讨以下几个方面：（1）锌在精子发生中的作用机制；（2）氧化应激对锌状态和男性不育的影响；（3）锌与男性生殖生理中脂质代谢的相互作用；（4）锌浓度与精液参数之间的关系；（5）锌补充对精子质量的影响以及相关机构的建议。锌缺乏诱导的酶功能障碍、氧化应激和脂质稳态破坏的分子途径仍部分未阐明，需要进一步研究它们对男性不育的相互依赖影响。虽然越来越多的证据表明锌补充在男性不育管理中可能具有治疗潜力，但其临床应用指南在不同机构和地区差异很大。为了建立一个关于锌在男性生殖健康中作用的清晰且基于证据的框架，未来研究应优先确定最佳锌水平、锌与脂质代谢之间的机制联系以及锌补充在不育人群中的长期临床结果。
