Associations between major dietary patterns and testicular function in a population-based cohort of young men: results from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study

<strong>Background:</strong> Controversial speculation suggestions that dietary intake may affect semen quality and testicular function, however, there are limited comprehensive studies observing dietary patterns.<p></p> <p><strong>Objective:</strong> To study associations between major dietary patterns and markers of testicular function in adulthood.</p> <p><strong>Material and Methods:</strong> Observational cross-sectional study of two hundred and ninety men with an average age of 20 years, from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. Usual dietary intake assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire at 20 years of age. Two dietary patterns previously identified using exploratory factor analysis ("Healthy" or "Western") and participants received z-scores for each dietary pattern. Primary endpoints were testicular volume, total sperm per ejaculate, morning serum testosterone concentration. Secondary endpoints were semen sample parameters, inhibin B and sex steroids (DHT: 3α-diol, 3β-diol; LH; FSH; DHEA; estradiol; estrone).</p> <p><strong>Result(s):</strong> Participants were on average 20.0 ± 0.4 years old, had a median of 2 days sexual abstinence and a body mass index of 24.1 ± 3.9 kg/m² , 13% were smokers, 52% were 'moderate' alcohol drinkers, 23% frequently used recreational drugs and 68% reported 'high' physical activity levels. Sperm concentration and DHT 3α-diol were negatively associated with a greater z-score for the "Western" dietary pattern (<i>p</i> = 0.007 and; <i>p</i> = 0.044, respectively), and serum estradiol concentration was positively associated with a "Western" dietary pattern (<i>p</i> = 0.007) after adjustment for BMI, varicocele, cryptorchidism and sexual abstinence.</p> <p><strong>Discussion:</strong> Despite associations between greater intake of the "Western" dietary pattern and a decreased male reproductive health markers, our lack of consistent associations of either a "Healthy" or a "Western" dietary pattern, limit clinical or biological significance in isolation.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> A potential negative association of a "Western" dietary pattern with male reproductive health was detected and should be studied further in population-based studies.</p>