Creatine as a Promising Component of Paternal Preconception Diet.

Sergej M. Ostojic,Tonje Holte Stea,Dagrun Engeset

doi:10.3390/nu14030586

Sergej M. Ostojic, Tonje Holte Stea + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030586

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Abstract

Male fertility has been declining globally over the past several decades, advancing from a personal issue to a public health problem. Beyond any doubt, a reduction in fertility (often characterized by low sperm count or motility) can severely threaten reproductive health and lifecourse framework in a long-term fashion. Aside from uncovering the currently unknown etiology of modern-day male infertility, the scientific and medical community faces a double burden: finding an efficient biomarker of impaired fertility and exploring any intervention that can act to enhance fertility. A plethora of nutritional compounds have been recognized as possible modulators of semen quality, and specific dietary patterns and nutrients appear to be accompanied by a lower risk of male infertility. Creatine, a conditionally essential nutrient, has caught attention as a male fertility-promoting candidate due to its role in sperm energy metabolism. This mini-review describes the creatine-related bioenergetics of spermatozoa, explores a connection between creatine levels and sperm quality in men, and critically examines available evidence for interventional studies with creatine to affect sperm viability.

Highlights

According to the Global Burden of Disease study, global fertility rates have been dropping steadily whereas life expectancy has been increasing over the past 20 years [1]
Poor nutrition has been recognized as a possible disruptor of semen quality, and the Western-style diet appears to be accompanied by a higher risk of male infertility [4,5]
In a preliminary communication published in The Lancet back in 1963, Lehmann and Griffiths [23] suggested that extremely high concentrations of creatine kinase found in seminal fluid (385–14,000 IU) might be used in tracking azoospermia

Summary

Background

According to the Global Burden of Disease study, global fertility rates have been dropping steadily whereas life expectancy has been increasing over the past 20 years [1]. The factors behind this worldwide decline in fertility rate remain largely unclear [2], a drop in semen quality represents a significant public health issue in terms of reproductive and lifecycle health [3]. A conditionally essential nutrient and a popular dietary supplement [13], drives attention as another male fertility-promoting candidate due to its role in sperm energy metabolism. This mini-review describes creatine-related bioenergetics of spermatozoa, explores a connection between creatine levels and sperm quality in men, and critically examines available evidence for interventional studies with creatine to affect sperm viability

Semen: An Energy-Demanding Fluid

Biomarkers of Creatine Metabolism and Sperm Quality

Exogenous Creatine and Sperm Viability

Paternal Preconception Diet with Creatine

Conclusions