Vitamin D levels and biomarkers of male fecundity : A study from the Danish National Birth Cohort
Gaml-Sørensen, Anne ; Brix, Nis ; Tøttenborg, Sandra Søgaard ; Lindh, Christian LU
; Hougaard, Karin Sörig
; Håberg, Siri Eldevik
; Toft, Gunnar
; Bonde, Jens Peter Ellekilde
and Ramlau-Hansen, Cecilia Høst
(2025)
In Andrology
- Abstract
Background: Vitamin D is metabolised throughout the male reproductive system, suggesting a direct regulatory role of vitamin D in male reproduction. Objectives: To investigate the association between plasma vitamin D levels at sperm ejaculation and during spermatogenesis and biomarkers of male fecundity in young men. Materials and methods: From the Fetal Programming of Semen Quality cohort, Denmark, 2017–2019, 1047 young men provided a semen and a blood sample, and self-measured their testes volume at a clinical visit. Plasma levels of vitamin D (25(OH)D3) and reproductive hormones were measured in the blood sample. Relative percentage differences in semen characteristics, testes volume and reproductive hormone levels were... (More)
Background: Vitamin D is metabolised throughout the male reproductive system, suggesting a direct regulatory role of vitamin D in male reproduction. Objectives: To investigate the association between plasma vitamin D levels at sperm ejaculation and during spermatogenesis and biomarkers of male fecundity in young men. Materials and methods: From the Fetal Programming of Semen Quality cohort, Denmark, 2017–2019, 1047 young men provided a semen and a blood sample, and self-measured their testes volume at a clinical visit. Plasma levels of vitamin D (25(OH)D3) and reproductive hormones were measured in the blood sample. Relative percentage differences in semen characteristics, testes volume and reproductive hormone levels were analysed according to measured vitamin D levels (categorised, continuous and as restricted cubic splines) at sperm ejaculation. Additionally, we used the seasonal variation in endogenous vitamin D synthesis to estimate individual vitamin D levels 3 months prior to sperm ejaculation (at initiation of spermatogenesis) in addition to 2 and 1 month before. This was analysed following the same strategy. Results: Compared to measured vitamin D levels >75 nmol/L, levels <25 nmol/L at sperm ejaculation were associated with lower total sperm count (‒15% [95% confidence interval: ‒33%; 8%]), and a higher proportion of non-progressive and immotile spermatozoa (11% [95% confidence interval: 0%; 24%]). Lower measured vitamin D levels were also associated with higher oestradiol, lower sex hormone-binding globulin and lower follicle-stimulating hormone, in dose-dependent manners. Vitamin D levels estimated before and during spermatogenesis yielded similar associations as vitamin D levels measured at sperm ejaculation. Discussion: By using the seasonal variation in endogen vitamin D synthesis, we were able to estimate individual vitamin D levels during spermatogenesis. Conclusion: Lower vitamin D levels before and during spermatogenesis and at sperm ejaculation were associated with lower total sperm count and sperm motility and an altered reproductive hormone profile.
(Less)
- author
- Gaml-Sørensen, Anne
; Brix, Nis
; Tøttenborg, Sandra Søgaard
; Lindh, Christian
LU
; Hougaard, Karin Sörig
; Håberg, Siri Eldevik
; Toft, Gunnar
; Bonde, Jens Peter Ellekilde
and Ramlau-Hansen, Cecilia Høst
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- in press
- subject
- keywords
- hydroxyvitamin D, male infertility, male reproductive health, reproductive hormones, semen quality, testes volume
- in
- Andrology
- publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105005581926
- pmid:40383998
- ISSN
- 2047-2919
- DOI
- 10.1111/andr.70061
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Andrology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society of Andrology and European Academy of Andrology.
- id
- 86170972-464f-4f0d-a895-187252a8a411
- date added to LUP
- 2025-07-14 14:52:59
- date last changed
- 2025-07-18 13:03:19
@article{86170972-464f-4f0d-a895-187252a8a411,
abstract = {{<p>Background: Vitamin D is metabolised throughout the male reproductive system, suggesting a direct regulatory role of vitamin D in male reproduction. Objectives: To investigate the association between plasma vitamin D levels at sperm ejaculation and during spermatogenesis and biomarkers of male fecundity in young men. Materials and methods: From the Fetal Programming of Semen Quality cohort, Denmark, 2017–2019, 1047 young men provided a semen and a blood sample, and self-measured their testes volume at a clinical visit. Plasma levels of vitamin D (25(OH)D<sub>3</sub>) and reproductive hormones were measured in the blood sample. Relative percentage differences in semen characteristics, testes volume and reproductive hormone levels were analysed according to measured vitamin D levels (categorised, continuous and as restricted cubic splines) at sperm ejaculation. Additionally, we used the seasonal variation in endogenous vitamin D synthesis to estimate individual vitamin D levels 3 months prior to sperm ejaculation (at initiation of spermatogenesis) in addition to 2 and 1 month before. This was analysed following the same strategy. Results: Compared to measured vitamin D levels >75 nmol/L, levels <25 nmol/L at sperm ejaculation were associated with lower total sperm count (‒15% [95% confidence interval: ‒33%; 8%]), and a higher proportion of non-progressive and immotile spermatozoa (11% [95% confidence interval: 0%; 24%]). Lower measured vitamin D levels were also associated with higher oestradiol, lower sex hormone-binding globulin and lower follicle-stimulating hormone, in dose-dependent manners. Vitamin D levels estimated before and during spermatogenesis yielded similar associations as vitamin D levels measured at sperm ejaculation. Discussion: By using the seasonal variation in endogen vitamin D synthesis, we were able to estimate individual vitamin D levels during spermatogenesis. Conclusion: Lower vitamin D levels before and during spermatogenesis and at sperm ejaculation were associated with lower total sperm count and sperm motility and an altered reproductive hormone profile.</p>}},
author = {{Gaml-Sørensen, Anne and Brix, Nis and Tøttenborg, Sandra Søgaard and Lindh, Christian and Hougaard, Karin Sörig and Håberg, Siri Eldevik and Toft, Gunnar and Bonde, Jens Peter Ellekilde and Ramlau-Hansen, Cecilia Høst}},
issn = {{2047-2919}},
keywords = {{hydroxyvitamin D; male infertility; male reproductive health; reproductive hormones; semen quality; testes volume}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
series = {{Andrology}},
title = {{Vitamin D levels and biomarkers of male fecundity : A study from the Danish National Birth Cohort}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/andr.70061}},
doi = {{10.1111/andr.70061}},
year = {{2025}},
}