Studies analyzing the effects of WL through diet programs on male hormonal profile, sexual function and reproductive health [7]
| Author | n | Diet protocol | Hormonal changes | Sexual/reproductive effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaukua et al. [35] | 38 | VLCD (800 kcal/day, n = 19), 10 weeks + behavior modifications + follow up, 22 weeks; TG vs. CG | ↑ TT, ↑ SHBG | = SF |
| Khoo et al. [36] | 70 | LCD (850–900 kcal/day), 8 weeks T2DM group vs. no T2DM group vs. CG | ↑ TT | ↑ IIEF, ↓ IPSS, ↑ erectile function and sexual desire |
| Khoo et al. [37] | 31 | LCD (~1,000 kcal/day) and HP, 8 weeks + 52 weeks LCD group (n = 19), HP group (n = 12) | ↑ TT, ↑SHBG | ↑ IIEF, ↓ IPSS, ↑ FMD |
| Niskanen et al. [38] | 58 | VLCD (800 kcal/day) + maintenance period, 9 weeks + 12 months | ↑ TT, ↑ FT, = E, ↑ SHBG | Not investigated |
| Stanik et al. [42] | 24 | Fasting program (320 kcal/day liquid diet), 8–20 weeks | ↑ TT, ↓ E, ↑ SHBG | Not investigated |
| Strain et al. [43] | 11 | Weight reduction, 5 months and 39 months | ↑ TT, ↑FT, = E, = LH, ↑ SHBG | Not investigated |
| Håkonsen et al. [44] | 43 | Weight reduction, 14 weeks | ↑ TT, ↑ SHBG | ↑ AMH, semen volume, total sperm count, normal sperm morphology |
| Klibanski et al. [40] | 6 | Effect of fasting on sex hormones serum levels | ↓ TT, ↓ LH, ↓ FSH | Not investigated |
| Jaffar and Ashraf [45] | 105 | Weight reduction | NA | ↑ progressive sperm motility, static sperm percentage |
| Caruso et al. [46] | 160 | MD (n = 80) or low-fat diet (n = 80) | NA | ↑ sperm concentration and sperm count, mainly in the MD group |
n: number of subjects; TT: total testosterone; FT: free testosterone; TG: treatment group; CG: control group; VLCD: very low-calorie diet; FMD: brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation; HP: high protein-low fat-reduced carbohydrate diet (reduction by 600 kcal/day); AMH: anti mullerian hormone; MD: Mediterranean diet; NA: not available. ↓: decrease; ↑: increase; =: unchanged
Note. Adapted from “How much does obesity affect the male reproductive function?,” by Bellastella G, Menafra D, Puliani G, Colao A, Savastano S; Obesity Programs of nutrition, Education, Research and Assessment (OPERA) Group. Int J Obes Suppl. 2019;9:50–64 (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41367-019-0008-2). © 2019, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.