Impact of GLP-1 Agonists on Male Reproductive Health—A Narrative Review
<i>Background and objective</i>—Obesity is a prevalent health concern that notably impairs male fertility through hormonal disruptions and other pathophysiological alterations. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) can significantly reduce weight. This narrative review sy...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Medicina |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/1/50 |
| _version_ | 1797342992700276736 |
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| author | Alexandra Aponte Varnum Edoardo Pozzi Nicholas Allen Deebel Aymara Evans Nathalie Eid Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad Ranjith Ramasamy |
| author_facet | Alexandra Aponte Varnum Edoardo Pozzi Nicholas Allen Deebel Aymara Evans Nathalie Eid Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad Ranjith Ramasamy |
| author_sort | Alexandra Aponte Varnum |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and objective</i>—Obesity is a prevalent health concern that notably impairs male fertility through hormonal disruptions and other pathophysiological alterations. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) can significantly reduce weight. This narrative review synthesizes the existing literature discussing the impact of glucagon-like peptide-GLP-1 RAs on the male reproductive system, particularly on the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and spermatogenesis, highlighting their potential impact on male fertility. <i>Material and methods</i>—PubMed database was used for the retrieval of English-language articles published up to November 2023. This non-systematic literature review predominantly concentrates on both pre-clinical and clinical studies pertaining to GLP-1 RAs, specifically exploring their impact on male reproductive hormones and sperm parameters. <i>Results</i>—GLP-1 receptors have been identified within the male reproductive system according to the existing literature. While the exact mechanisms are not well understood, they appear to be involved in glucose homeostasis and energy metabolism, both vital processes in spermatogenesis. Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of GLP-1 RAs for promoting weight loss. Recent studies show that the use of GLP-1 RAs in obese males may enhance sperm metabolism, motility, and insulin secretion in vitro, along with positive effects on the human Sertoli cells. Recent clinical trials discussed in this review demonstrate weight loss associated with GLP-1 RAs is correlated with improvements in sperm count, concentration, and motility. However, the direct impact of GLP-1 RAs on male reproductive hormones remains unclear, necessitating further research to confirm their potential role in treating male infertility. <i>Conclusions</i>—This narrative review summarizes the existing literature discussing the potential impact of GLP-1 RA on the male reproductive system, emphasizing their potential therapeutic role in addressing idiopathic infertility in obese men. Despite numerous studies exploring the influence of GLP-1 and GLP-1 RAs on reproductive hormones, testicular function, and spermatogenesis, further clinical trials are crucial to validate initial evidence. Longer follow-up periods are essential to address uncertainties regarding the long-term repercussions and outcomes of GLP-1 RA use. While this holds true, the current literature suggests that GLP-1RAs show promise as a potential therapeutic approach for improving sperm parameters in obese men. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:41:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-567893197fb2484f8dd51532976da36a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:41:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj.art-567893197fb2484f8dd51532976da36a2024-01-26T17:35:05ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442023-12-016015010.3390/medicina60010050Impact of GLP-1 Agonists on Male Reproductive Health—A Narrative ReviewAlexandra Aponte Varnum0Edoardo Pozzi1Nicholas Allen Deebel2Aymara Evans3Nathalie Eid4Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad5Ranjith Ramasamy6Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USADesai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USADepartment of Urology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USADesai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USAGrossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USAGrossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USADesai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA<i>Background and objective</i>—Obesity is a prevalent health concern that notably impairs male fertility through hormonal disruptions and other pathophysiological alterations. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) can significantly reduce weight. This narrative review synthesizes the existing literature discussing the impact of glucagon-like peptide-GLP-1 RAs on the male reproductive system, particularly on the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and spermatogenesis, highlighting their potential impact on male fertility. <i>Material and methods</i>—PubMed database was used for the retrieval of English-language articles published up to November 2023. This non-systematic literature review predominantly concentrates on both pre-clinical and clinical studies pertaining to GLP-1 RAs, specifically exploring their impact on male reproductive hormones and sperm parameters. <i>Results</i>—GLP-1 receptors have been identified within the male reproductive system according to the existing literature. While the exact mechanisms are not well understood, they appear to be involved in glucose homeostasis and energy metabolism, both vital processes in spermatogenesis. Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of GLP-1 RAs for promoting weight loss. Recent studies show that the use of GLP-1 RAs in obese males may enhance sperm metabolism, motility, and insulin secretion in vitro, along with positive effects on the human Sertoli cells. Recent clinical trials discussed in this review demonstrate weight loss associated with GLP-1 RAs is correlated with improvements in sperm count, concentration, and motility. However, the direct impact of GLP-1 RAs on male reproductive hormones remains unclear, necessitating further research to confirm their potential role in treating male infertility. <i>Conclusions</i>—This narrative review summarizes the existing literature discussing the potential impact of GLP-1 RA on the male reproductive system, emphasizing their potential therapeutic role in addressing idiopathic infertility in obese men. Despite numerous studies exploring the influence of GLP-1 and GLP-1 RAs on reproductive hormones, testicular function, and spermatogenesis, further clinical trials are crucial to validate initial evidence. Longer follow-up periods are essential to address uncertainties regarding the long-term repercussions and outcomes of GLP-1 RA use. While this holds true, the current literature suggests that GLP-1RAs show promise as a potential therapeutic approach for improving sperm parameters in obese men.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/1/50glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonistsobesitysemen parametersmale infertility |
| spellingShingle | Alexandra Aponte Varnum Edoardo Pozzi Nicholas Allen Deebel Aymara Evans Nathalie Eid Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad Ranjith Ramasamy Impact of GLP-1 Agonists on Male Reproductive Health—A Narrative Review Medicina glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists obesity semen parameters male infertility |
| title | Impact of GLP-1 Agonists on Male Reproductive Health—A Narrative Review |
| title_full | Impact of GLP-1 Agonists on Male Reproductive Health—A Narrative Review |
| title_fullStr | Impact of GLP-1 Agonists on Male Reproductive Health—A Narrative Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of GLP-1 Agonists on Male Reproductive Health—A Narrative Review |
| title_short | Impact of GLP-1 Agonists on Male Reproductive Health—A Narrative Review |
| title_sort | impact of glp 1 agonists on male reproductive health a narrative review |
| topic | glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists obesity semen parameters male infertility |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/1/50 |
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