Los hombres con esperma de alta calidad pueden vivir más tiempo, según estudio
The quality of sperm could be an indicator of men’s overall health, as explained by «Euronews Health.»
Men with better sperm quality may live for several years, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 80,000 Danish men with a follow-up of 50 years. The men were assessed for semen quality in the laboratory due to partner infertility.
The analysis looked at semen volume, sperm concentration, and proportion of motile sperm, i.e., those that moved efficiently and had a normal shape.
According to the results published in the journal «Human Reproduction,» men with the highest number of motile sperm had a life expectancy two to three years longer than men with the lowest number of motile sperm.
«In absolute terms, men with a total number of motile sperm of over 120 million lived 2.7 years longer than men with a total number of motile sperm between zero and five million,» Dr. Lårke Priskorn, lead researcher at Copenhagen University Hospital (Denmark) and the main author of the study, said in a statement.
«The lower the sperm quality, the lower the life expectancy. This association was not explained by any illness in the ten years prior to the semen quality assessment or by the educational level of the men,» he added.
A potential health indicator for men
One hypothesis to explain this relationship is that sperm quality could serve as an indicator of overall health in individuals.
Previous research cited by the team found that men with lower sperm concentration had also been hospitalized seven years earlier on average, emphasizing that men with damaged sperm quality as a group may not only expect to die earlier but also live fewer healthy years.
«The current findings validate and add to the limited, yet growing body of research that demonstrates sperm quality as an important health marker. It is likely predictive of future health,» said Dr. Germine Buck Louis, dean of George Mason University in the United States, to «Euronews Health» via email.
«The increased clinical awareness is evolving and has prompted some authors to propose that sperm quality be considered the sixth vital sign,» added the expert, who did not participate in the study.
Typical vital signs that measure basic body functions include temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation.
The study does not identify the underlying causes of the difference in life expectancy, but Louis said, «Environmental exposures may play a role, possibly through oxidative stress pathways, as they affect both reproductive and overall health globally.
«Without knowing the exact causes of infertility and the affected cellular functions, it is difficult to develop medical interventions or new drugs to address the issue or issues,» said Dolores Lamb, co-director of Research at Mercy Kansas City Hospital in the United States, to «Euronews Health.» «The common link between infertility and increased health risks for infertile men is currently under active investigation,» Lamb added.
