Interactive Effects of Unhealthy Lifestyle Behaviors on Testicular Function among Healthy Adult Men: A Cross-Sectional Study in Taiwan

Adi Lukas Kurniawan, Chien-Yeh Hsu, Jane C.-J. Chao, Li-Yin Lin, Rathi Paramastri, Hsiu-An Lee, Nan-Chen Hsieh and Shu-Fang Vivienne Wu
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Adi Lukas Kurniawan: Research Center for Healthcare Industry Innovation, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Chien-Yeh Hsu: Department of Information Management, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Jane C.-J. Chao: School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
Li-Yin Lin: Master Program in Applied Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
Rathi Paramastri: School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
Hsiu-An Lee: Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Tamkang University, New Taipei 251, Taiwan
Nan-Chen Hsieh: Research Center for Healthcare Industry Innovation, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Shu-Fang Vivienne Wu: Research Center for Healthcare Industry Innovation, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei 112, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: Recently, the role of lifestyle factors in testicular function has developed into a growing area of interest. Based on cross-sectional data on 3283 Taiwanese men, we investigated whether interactive effects of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors were associated with testicular function. The men were recruited from a private screening institute between 2009 and 2015. Lifestyle behaviors (smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity (PA), sleeping habits, and diet) were obtained by a validated self-reported questionnaire. The men provided a semen sample and had blood drawn for sex hormone measurement. Men who smoked and drank had higher testosterone (T) levels (? = 0.81, p < 0.001) than those who neither smoked nor drank. Men who smoked and had high Western dietary pattern scores had higher T levels—by 0.38 ng/mL ( p = 0.03). Those who drank and did not get enough sleep or had high Western dietary pattern scores had elevated T levels—by 0.60 ng/mL ( p = 0.005) or 0.45 ng/mL ( p = 0.02), respectively. Light PA and insomnia were associated with decreased T levels—by 0.64 ng/mL ( p < 0.001). Those who smoked and drank or had light PA or had high Western dietary pattern scores had lower normal sperm morphologies (NSMs)—by 2.08%, 1.77%, and 2.29%, respectively. Moreover, drinkers who had high Western dietary pattern scores had higher sperm concentrations—by 4.63 M/mL ( p = 0.04). Awareness and recognition of the long-term impact of lifestyle behaviors and better lifestyle choices may help to optimize the chance of conception amongst couples.

Keywords: unhealthy lifestyle; smoking; alcohol consumption; sleeping habits; physical activity; diet (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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