The association between different beverages and male reproductive health Original paper

Some research suggests that the average sperm count may have declined in many Western nations in the last several centuries; this is often referred to as the Sperm Count Decline hypothesis. Currently, there is no widely accepted mechanism underlying this hypothesis, but one possibility may be related to dietary factors, including a rise in sugar consumption during this time period.

This cross-sectional study examined the association between consumption of several types of beverages and testicular function, including sperm parameters, in 2,835 young Danish men (mean age of 19). The investigators collected information on the participants’ consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs), fruit juice, and energy drinks, as well as other dietary information, using a food frequency questionnaire.

The investigators assessed a number of outcomes, including testicular volume, hormones and proteins with potential effects on testicular function (testosterone, estradiol, inhibin-B, luteinizing hormone, and sex hormone binding globulin), and several sperm-related parameters, including sperm concentration, total sperm count, motile sperm, and normal sperm morphology.

The analyses were adjusted for a variety of potential confounders, including age, BMI, height, smoking, use of recreational drugs, moderate-to-vigorous exercise, reproductive diseases and surgeries, season and year of sample, dietary patterns, and energy consumption. The results were based on a model comparing each drink to water.

After examining each beverage compared to water, the following results were found:

• SSB consumption was associated with a lower sperm count (−8 million), lower sperm concentration (−3.4 million per mL), and lower inhibin-B.
• ASB consumption was associated with lower total sperm motility.
• Energy drink consumption was associated with a higher percentage of normal sperm, higher estradiol, and higher luteinizing hormone.
• There was no association between fruit juice consumption and any outcome.