REVIEW  HOT TOPICS IN MALE INFERTILITY 

Panminerva Medica 2019 June;61(2):187-95

DOI: 10.23736/S0031-0808.18.03531-0

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The role of environmental factors and lifestyle on male reproductive health, the epigenome, and resulting offspring

Kyle HART, Nicholas N. TADROS ✉

Division of Urology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA

Many environmental and genetic variables affect male reproductive health. Some of these factors, however, interfere not only with fertility, but also the non-genomic materials within spermatozoa that can cause phenotypic changes in the offspring, and in some cases, multiple generations. This intergenerational and transgenerational inheritance is due to epigenetic modifications, which is a complex adjunct to traditional Mendelian genetics whose influence on a wide range of human diseases is an active area of research. As the epigenome is a gestalt of individual exposures to the world, ongoing research is evaluating the scope of environmental impacts on the epigenome, as well as its mechanisms for adjusting the phenotypic expression of the organism without changing the code itself. Of particular interest is how these traits are passable to subsequent generations. This article will cover the latest data concerning how the overall quality of nutrition and lifestyle of an individual has been demonstrated to have a significant effect on male reproductive health, and how the accumulation of these modifications are risk factors for the health of their offspring.

KEY WORDS: Reproductive health - Infertility - Diet, food, and nutrition - Life style - Obesity