The association between trans fatty acids, infertility and fetal life: a review

Abstract

Trans fatty acids (TFAs) are thought to affect reproductive health by causing adverse effects on sperm morphology and ovum quality as a result of changing membrane lipid composition which, in turn, leads to impairment in metabolic pathways. This literature review examines the evidence for the effects of dietary TFAs on male and female infertility. Studies conducted between 2007 and 2017 on the effect of dietary TFAs on human reproductive health and fetal life have been included. They indicate that TFA intakes are inversely proportional to sperm concentration and total sperm count and exhibit a positive correlation with asthenospermia, as well as an adverse association on sperm concentration and semen quality. In the female TFAs intakes are associated with an increase in the risk of ovulatory infertility, adversely affect the length of gestation leading to fetal developmental defects and fetal loss. The findings suggest that high TFA intake (more than 1% of energy consumption) constitute a risk factor for infertility in both sexes.

Relevance of Fatty Acids to Sperm Maturation and Quality

“…Opposite to PUFAs, trans-FAs and SFAs appeared to have an effect on spermatogenesis. The association between trans-FAs, infertility, and fetal life has been reviewed by Çekici and Akdevelioğlu [108]. trans-FAs are found in commercially baked and fried foods, which accumulate in the testis, and high consumption is related to poor semen quality [33].…”

Current Nutritional Factors Affecting Fertility and Infertility

“…The fact that certain dietary ingredients are deemed responsible for male and female infertility makes it crucial to study the effects of nutrition on infertility and reproductive health. Especially trans fatty acids have adverse effects on male and female reproductive health, cause abnormalities in certain metabolic pathways and damage the metabolism of essential components of the reproductive system [5,6]. When other nutritional factors that may be responsible for infertility are evaluated; saturated fat, red meat, processed meats, fatty dairy products, sugar and sweeteners, alcohol and caffeine come to the forefront.…”

Sphingomyelin Synthase 2 Participate in the Regulation of Sperm Motility and Apoptosis

“…Many factors can affect the asthenospermia including fibrous sheath, cilium, energy metabolism, calcium channel and essential fatty acids [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. However, in this study, we found that SMS2 was related with asthenospermia.…”

“…However, asthenospermia, which is associated with poor sperm viability and motility, is the leading factor in male infertility [ 1 , 2 ]. Many causes of asthenospermia have been reported so far [ 3 , 4 , 5 ], which include dysplasia of fibrous sheath, defects in the action of cilium, disfunction of energy metabolism, dysplasia of calcium channel [ 3 , 4 ]. Insufficiency of essential fatty acid, such as DHA, is also a cause of this disease [ 5 ].…”

“…Many causes of asthenospermia have been reported so far [ 3 , 4 , 5 ], which include dysplasia of fibrous sheath, defects in the action of cilium, disfunction of energy metabolism, dysplasia of calcium channel [ 3 , 4 ]. Insufficiency of essential fatty acid, such as DHA, is also a cause of this disease [ 5 ]. Moreover, signaling pathways are also associated with asthenospermia [ 6 ].…”