Abstract
BackgroundManganese (Mn) is an essential element in humans but its effect on semen quality is unclear. This study therefore aimed to assess the effects of Mn on semen quality in healthy men with no occupational exposure to Mn.MethodsSemen samples were obtained from healthy Chinese men 20–59 years old who were recruited from six provinces in China. Individuals with urogenital tract diseases, tuberculosis, or occupational exposure to heavy metals were excluded. A questionnaire survey was conducted, and the external genitalia, semen quality, and serum Mn levels were examined.ResultsA total of 1,179 volunteers were enrolled in this study. The median serum Mn concentration was 8.2 μg/L (25th percentile (P25)=3.7 μg/L, P75=16.2μg/L). After adjusted area (six provinces), abstinence interval, season, registered residence, age of subjects, education level, income, smoking, and drinking, the risk of teratospermia was increased at serum Mn concentrations >19.40 μg/L (P80) group, with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.27 (95% confidence interval: 1.18–4.37).ConclusionHigh serum Mn levels appeared to have harmful effects on sperm morphology and motility among healthy men with no occupational exposure to Mn.
Highlights
Manganese (Mn) is an essential element in humans but its effect on semen quality is unclear
20–59 years old, who had lived in the respective cities more than 10 years, and who had no reproductive disorders, or no identifiable history of infertility, were enrolled
The current study found that serum Mn concentrations >19.40 μg/L (P80) had negative impacts on sperm morphology, suggesting that high serum Mn levels can adversely affect semen quality in healthy men with no occupational Mn exposure, the value of 19.40 μg/L was only the 80th percentile cut-off point for all subjects, and could not be considered as the threshold value for the harmful effects of Mn on sperm morphology
Summary
Manganese (Mn) is an essential element in humans but its effect on semen quality is unclear. This study aimed to assess the effects of Mn on semen quality in healthy men with no occupational exposure to Mn. Manganese (Mn) is an essential element for humans in small quantities, but a potent toxin at high levels. Manganese (Mn) is an essential element for humans in small quantities, but a potent toxin at high levels It is one of the most abundant elements and is widely distributed in soil, air, water, and food [1]. It is required for ubiquitous enzymatic reactions. Mn activates several polymerases at low concentrations, but inhibits them at higher concentrations
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