The Mechanism of High Fat Diet-Induced Sperm Morphological Abnormalities

doi:10.12280/gjszjk.20250319

Abstract

Abstract:

Sperm morphology is a key indicator for assessing male fertility. The abnormality of sperm morphology is closely associated with the reduced sperm motility, lower fertilization rate and male infertility. Long-term or excessive consumption of high fat diet can lead to obesity, metabolic disorders and hormonal imbalances, which is significantly correlated with abnormal sperm morphology. The potential mechanisms by which high-fat diet induces sperm morphological abnormality involve the multiple disruptions in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, aberrant sperm membrane lipid metabolism, cytoskeletal dynamic imbalance, oxidative stress, testicular microenvironment inflammation, and epigenetic modifications. Interventions such as adopting a Mediterranean diet pattern or supplementing with antioxidants (e.g., vitamin C, coenzyme Q10) may ameliorate the high fat diet-induced abnormalities in sperm morphology and function. We review the recent advances in the potential mechanism of how high fat diet-induced sperm morphological abnormalities, providing clinically strategies based on dietary modification and antioxidant intervention.

Key words: Diet, high-fat, Infertility, male, Spermatozoa, Teratozoospermia, Glucagon-like peptide 1

SHI Xue-ying, YANG Jin-ji, FU Hao, HU Chun-xiu. The Mechanism of High Fat Diet-Induced Sperm Morphological Abnormalities[J]. Journal of International Reproductive Health/Family Planning, 2025, 44(6): 490-495.

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