Dr. Kristian Leisegang (School of Natural Medicine)
http://hdl.handle.net/10566/2386
2024-03-29T11:43:35ZObesity and metabolic syndrome associated with systemic inflammation and the impact on the male reproductive system
http://hdl.handle.net/10566/5696
Obesity and metabolic syndrome associated with systemic inflammation and the impact on the male reproductive system
Leisegang, Kristian; Henkel, Ralf; Argarwal, Ashok
Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are global epidemics, driven by an obe‐sogenic environment. This is mediated by complex underlying pathophysiology, in which chronic inflammation is an important aetiological and mechanistic phenom‐enon. A shift towards a subclinical TH1–lymphocyte mediated innate and chronic in‐flammatory response is well defined in obesity and MetS, demonstrated in multiple systems including visceral adiposity, brain (hypothalamus), muscles, vasculature, liver, pancreas, testes, epididymis, prostate and seminal fluid. Inflammatory cytokines dis‐rupt the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐testes axis and steroidogenesis cascades (hypogon‐adotropic hypogonadism), spermatogenesis (poor semen parameters, including DNA fragmentation and detrimental epigenetic modification) and results in subclinical prostatitis and prostate hyperplasia. This review aims to highlight the role of chronic inflammation in obesity and MetS, cytokines in male reproductive physiology and pathophysiology, the impact on steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis, prostate pa‐thology and erectile dysfunction. Currently, it is recommended that clinical assess‐ment of male infertility and reproductive dysfunction in obese and MetS patients includes inflammation assessment (highly sensitive C‐reactive protein), and appro‐priate advice and therapeutic options are incorporated in the management options. However, the mechanisms and therapeutic options remain poorly understood and require significant interdisciplinary research to identify potential novel therapeutic strategies
2019-01-01T00:00:00ZEffect of the metabolic syndrome on male reproductive function: a case-controlled pilot study
http://hdl.handle.net/10566/2571
Effect of the metabolic syndrome on male reproductive function: a case-controlled pilot study
Leisegang, Kristian; Bouic, Patrick J.D.; Henkel, Ralf
The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of various risk factors. This
study aimed to investigate the effect of MetS on testosterone and progesterone,
and semen parameters, in a case-controlled pilot study. Male patients (n = 54)
had body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and blood pressure recorded.
Blood was analysed for HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose. Saliva was
assayed for free testosterone and free progesterone. Ejaculates were analysed for
volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility, vitality, mitochondrial
membrane potential (MMP), DNA fragmentation and leucocyte concentration.
Participants were divided into the control group (n = 28) and the
MetS group (n = 26). Differences were found between the groups for body
mass index, WHR, blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides
and glucose. The MetS group showed significant reductions in sperm
concentration (P = 0.0026), total sperm count (P = 0.0034), total motility
(P = 0.0291), sperm vitality (P = 0.002), MMP (P = 0.0039), free testosterone
(P = 0.0093) and free progesterone (P = 0.0130), while values for DNA fragmentation
increased (P = 0.0287). Results indicate that patients with MetS
have compromised sperm parameters in the absence of leucocytospermia. A
reduction in free progesterone suggests that steroidogenesis cascades may be
compromised. It is hypothesised that a systemic pro-inflammatory state with
oxidative stress associated with MetS may provide a novel explanation.
2014-01-01T00:00:00ZObesity is associated with increased seminal insulin and leptin alongside reduced fertility parameters in a controlled male cohort
http://hdl.handle.net/10566/2032
Obesity is associated with increased seminal insulin and leptin alongside reduced fertility parameters in a controlled male cohort
Leisegang, Kristian; Menkveld, Roelof; Bouic, Patrick J.D.; Henkel, Ralf
Obesity appears to be associated with male reproductive dysfunction and infertility, although this has been inconsistent and inconclusive. Insulin and leptin are known mediators and modulators of the hypothalamus-pituitary-testes axis, contributing to the regulation of male reproductive potential and overall wellbeing. These hormones are also present in semen influencing sperm functions. Although abdominal obesity is closely associated with insulin resistance (hyperinsulinaemia), hyperleptinaemia and glucose dysfunction, changes in seminal plasma concentrations of insulin, leptin and glucose in obese males has not previously been investigated.
2014-01-01T00:00:00ZThe impact of male overweight on semen quality and outcome of assisted reproduction
http://hdl.handle.net/10566/2031
The impact of male overweight on semen quality and outcome of assisted reproduction
Leisegang, Kristian; Henkel, Ralf
The impact of obesity on male reproductive health remains a
contested topic as evidence is inconclusive and inconsistent. Even
more debatable is the effect of male obesity in assisted reproduction.
In the manuscript, “the impact of male overweight on semen quality
and outcome of assisted reproduction” published in Asian Journal
of Andrology, Thomsen et al. investigated the effect of male obesity
on fertilization outcomes in intrauterine insemination, in vitro
fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
programs further contributes to the increasing body of evidence in
this field.
2014-01-01T00:00:00Z