Associations between urinary phthalate metabolite mixtures, semen quality, and serum reproductive hormone levels in Japanese men seeking fertility treatment.
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Abstract
Phthalate mixtures may adversely affect men's reproductive functioning. This study aimed to analyze the association between exposure to phthalate mixtures, semen quality, and reproductive hormone concentrations in Japanese men seeking fertility treatment. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 197 Japanese adult males who visited clinics for infertility consultations in 2020 and 2021. Semen samples were collected to measure volume, sperm count, sperm concentration, and motility. Spot urine samples were collected to quantify phthalate monoesters, specifically phthalate diester metabolites, using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Serum concentrations of testosterone, estradiol, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prolactin were obtained from clinical records. Three statistical methods-weighted quantile sum regression, quantile g-computation, and Bayesian kernel machine regression-were applied. Urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolite mixtures were positively associated with sperm motility, with monoethyl phthalate being the most important contributor to the observed association. No significant associations were found between phthalate mixtures and semen volume, sperm count, or concentration. These associations were consistent across all three statistical methods. Higher urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolite mixtures were associated with lower testosterone and higher prolactin concentrations in serum; however, there were no significant associations between phthalate mixtures or individual phthalate metabolites and estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, or luteinizing hormone concentrations. Higher exposure to phthalate mixtures may be associated with increased sperm motility and serum prolactin and reduced serum testosterone concentrations. Overall, these findings suggest that even at a relatively low level, exposure to phthalate mixtures may affect male reproductive health.
期刊介绍：
Drawing from a large number of disciplines, Reproductive Toxicology publishes timely, original research on the influence of chemical and physical agents on reproduction. Written by and for obstetricians, pediatricians, embryologists, teratologists, geneticists, toxicologists, andrologists, and others interested in detecting potential reproductive hazards, the journal is a forum for communication among researchers and practitioners. Articles focus on the application of in vitro, animal and clinical research to the practice of clinical medicine.
All aspects of reproduction are within the scope of Reproductive Toxicology, including the formation and maturation of male and female gametes, sexual function, the events surrounding the fusion of gametes and the development of the fertilized ovum, nourishment and transport of the conceptus within the genital tract, implantation, embryogenesis, intrauterine growth, placentation and placental function, parturition, lactation and neonatal survival. Adverse reproductive effects in males will be considered as significant as adverse effects occurring in females. To provide a balanced presentation of approaches, equal emphasis will be given to clinical and animal or in vitro work. Typical end points that will be studied by contributors include infertility, sexual dysfunction, spontaneous abortion, malformations, abnormal histogenesis, stillbirth, intrauterine growth retardation, prematurity, behavioral abnormalities, and perinatal mortality.
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