Table 2 Effects of sports and physical activity on human semen parameters: studies reporting effects of physical activity and sports on male fertility
Reference | Population studied | Results |
|---|---|---|
Vaamonde et al. [7] | 12 high-level triathletes after 2-weeks period of tapering (lowered training volume) | ↑ DNA fragmentation ↑ round cells |
Vaamonde et al. [57] | 16 physically active subjects | Following more strenuous exercise: ↓ sperm count, ↓ morphology |
14 water polo players | ||
15 “Ironman” triathletes | ||
Vaamonde et al. [66] | Case report - triathlete | ↑ DNA fragmentation ↑ round cells ↓total antioxidant capacity |
Vaamonde et al. [58] | 16 physically active subjects | ↑ sperm count and morphology, ↑ FSH, LH and T in physically active men |
15 sedentary men | ||
Maleki et al. [59] | 280 men, randomized to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), high-intensity continuous training (HICT), high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or no-exercise | ↑ semen quality and DNA integrity, ↓ markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in all exercise groups compared to no-exercise; best results for MICT compared to HICT and HIIT |
Maleki et al. [60] | Semen samples from 56 elite athletes, 52 recreationally active men and 53 non-active men | ↑ SOD, catalase and total antioxidant capacity and ↓ 8-Isoprostane, ROS and MDA in recreationally active men; ↓ SOD, catalase and total antioxidant capacity and ↑ 8-Isoprostane, ROS and MDA in elite athletes |
Rosety et al. [62] | 90 obese adults, randomized to either intervention group (45 men, 16-week aerobic training - treadmill) and control group (45 men). | ↑ testosterone, sperm concentration, motility and morphology in intervention group |
Maleki et al. [63] | 433 Infertile men, randomly assigned to high-intensity exercise (n = 218) or control (n = 215) groups | ↓ IL-6, TNF-α, ROS, MDA, and ↑ SOD, catalase, and total antioxidant capacity in high-exercise group |
Maleki et al. [64] | 24 non-professional male cyclists, undergoing 16 weeks of intensive training | ↑ sperm ROS and MDA and ↓SOD, catalase and total antioxidant capacity, persisting up to 30 days post-exercise |
Wise et al. [69] | 4565 semen samples from 2261 men undergoing ART | ↓ sperm concentration and motility in men bicycling ≥5 h/wk |
Jozkow et al. [8] | 177 young “lean, educated, and physically active” healthy males | ↑ % immotile sperm in physical exercise (3rd – 4th quartile) |
Maleki [61] | 419 sedentary infertile men, randomized to either exercise (n = 210) or no exercise (n = 209) | ↓ IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, ROS, MDA, 8-isoprostane and ↑ sperm integrity, SOD, catalase, total antioxidant capacity and pregnancy rate in exercise group |