Newswise — A fresh article in the European Journal of Endocrinology, printed by Oxford University Press, suggests that boys who are overweight generally exhibit diminished testicular size, increasing their chances of infertility in later life.
The psychological well-being and socio-economic lives of childbearing-aged individuals are heavily impacted by infertility. In 2010, infertility affected 48 million couples. Despite male infertility being a contributing factor in roughly half of all cases, it is often disregarded. Nonetheless, the cause of male infertility often remains unclear. A German study analyzing over 20,000 male patients referred to a fertility center found that about 70% of them could not be diagnosed. A significant proportion of childless male patients do not have an explanation for their infertility. Studies show a decline in sperm concentration and total sperm count over the past 40 years, paralleled by an increase in childhood obesity worldwide from 32 to 42 million. Observers predict that by the age of 35, about 60% of children will be obese.
Surveys conducted in Italy have also found that nearly 25% of young men aged 18-19 experience testicular hypotrophy, which puts their future fertility in jeopardy. Several environmental factors, including exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, as well as personal habits like a sedentary lifestyle or eating disorders, have undergone significant changes in recent decades.
The effect of obesity and related metabolic disorders on testicular development during childhood remains uncertain. In this study, researchers conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional investigation on children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years, who were referred to the Unit of Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of Catania in Sicily for weight management purposes.
The research team collected information on testicular size, age, body mass index, and insulin resistance from 268 children and adolescents. Their findings revealed that boys of normal weight had testicular volumes 1.5 times larger than their overweight or obese counterparts during the peripubertal period. Additionally, children and adolescents in the study with normal insulin levels had testicular volumes 1.5-2 times larger than those with hyperinsulinemia, a condition frequently linked to type 2 diabetes that results in elevated insulin levels in the bloodstream. Consequently, those with overweight or obesity, hyperinsulinemia, or insulin resistance exhibited reduced testicular volume compared to their healthy peers. The study suggests that weight loss could potentially help patients avoid infertility in adulthood since decreased testicular volume is predictive of lower sperm production later in life.
Rossella Cannarella, one of the paper's authors, stated, "Although the prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing worldwide, the impact of obesity and related metabolic disorders on testicular growth remains poorly understood. Our study discovered that being overweight or obese was linked with reduced testicular volume during the peri-pubertal stage. Additionally, obesity-related conditions such as hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance have been shown to affect testicular volume during both pre- and post-pubertal stages. Thus, we believe that more thorough body weight control in childhood could serve as a preventive measure for preserving testicular function in adulthood."
The paper, “Testicular volume in 268 children and adolescents followed-up for childhood obesity - a retrospective cross-sectional study,” is available (at midnight on May 10th) at: https://doi.org/10.1093/ejendo/lvad033.
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