Semen quality and alcohol intake: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is widespread in the Western world. Some studies have suggested a negative association between alcohol intake and semen quality although others have not confirmed this. MEDLINE and Embase were searched using 'alcohol intake' OR 'alcohol consumption' OR 'alcohol drinking' OR 'lifestyle' combined with 'semen quality' OR 'sperm quality' OR 'sperm volume' OR 'sperm concentration' OR 'sperm motility' for full-length observational articles, published in English. Reference lists of retrieved articles were searched for other pertinent studies. Main outcome measures were sperm parameters, if provided as means (standard deviation or standard error) or as medians (interquartile range). Fifteen cross-sectional studies were included, with 16,395 men enrolled. Main results showed that alcohol intake has a detrimental effect on semen volume (pooled estimate for no/low alcohol consumption 0.25 ml, 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.42) and normal morphology (1.87%, 95% CI, 0.86 to 2.88%). The difference was more marked when comparing occasional versus daily consumers, rather than never versus occasional, suggesting a moderate consumption did not adversely affect semen parameters. Hence, studies evaluating the effect of changes on semen parameters on the reproductive outcomes are needed in advance of providing recommendations regarding alcohol intake other than the advice to avoid heavy alcohol drinking.

Lifestyle and demographic factors associated with human semen quality and sperm function

“…Also, we did not find any association between alcohol consumption and semen quality which was again in line with the CHAPS study (Povey et al 2012;Pacey et al 2014). Discordance with a recent review reported a positive association between excess alcohol intake and semen volume and morphology was noted (Ricci et al 2017). When considering tea intake, our result was in line with a recent meta-analysis which showed that caffeine intake (including tea and caffeinated beverages) did not show a clear association with semen parameters (Salas-Huetos et al 2017).…”

Alcohol intake and semen variables: cross‐sectional analysis of a prospective cohort study of men referring to an Italian Fertility Clinic

“…A negative association between alcohol intake and semen quality has been suggested by some authors (Martini et al, 2004;Muthusami & Chinnaswamy, 2005), although other studies did not confirm this finding (L opez Teij on et al, 2007;Hansen et al, 2012). According to a recent meta-analysis of 15 cross-sectional studies, occasional consumption does not adversely affect semen variables, whereas a negative association with semen volume and normal morphology emerged for daily consumption (Ricci et al, 2017). However, these findings could not be controlled for confounders such as smoking and age.…”

Paternal Folate Status and Sperm Quality, Pregnancy Outcomes, and Epigenetics: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

“…It is important to take confounders into consideration since previous studies have shown that a diversity of conditions and factors, such as smoking, alcohol use, age, and BMI also influence sperm parameters, which is in line with the induction of excessive oxidative stress. [ 26–29 ] Although, less research is performed on paternal influences on pregnancy outcomes, we assume that the same confounding factors should be considered.…”