Latest news with #LærkePriskorn
Euronews
08-03-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Men with better quality sperm may live longer, study finds
The quality of semen could be an indicator of overall health for men, experts told Euronews Health. ADVERTISEMENT Men with better sperm quality may live longer lives, according to a new study. Researchers analysed data from nearly 80,000 Danish men with a follow-up of up to 50 years. The men had had their semen quality assessed in the laboratory due to couple infertility. The analysis looked at semen volume, sperm concentration, and the proportion of motile sperm - meaning sperm that moved efficiently - and had a normal shape. Those with a higher number of motile sperm had a life expectancy that was two to three years longer than men with the lowest number of motile sperm, according to the findings published in the journal Human Reproduction. 'In absolute terms, men with a total motile count of more than 120 million lived 2.7 years longer than men with a total motile count of between zero and five million,' Dr Lærke Priskorn, a senior researcher at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark and the study's lead author, said in a statement. 'The lower the semen quality, the lower the life expectancy. This association was not explained by any diseases in the ten years before semen quality assessment or the men's educational level,' she added. A potential health indicator for men One hypothesis to explain the link is that semen quality could work as an indicator of men's overall health. Previous research cited by the team found that men with a lower sperm concentration were also hospitalised seven years earlier on average, 'underlining that men with impaired semen quality as a group not only can expect to die earlier but also to live fewer healthy years'. 'The current findings corroborate and add to the limited albeit growing body of research showing that semen quality is an important marker of current health and likely predictive of future health across the lifespan,' Dr Germaine Buck Louis, dean of the College of Health at George Mason University in the US, told Euronews Health in an email. 'Greater clinical awareness is evolving and has prompted some authors to call for semen quality being considered the 6th vital sign,' the expert, who was not involved in the study, added. The typical vital signs measuring the body's basic functions are 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 that 'environmental exposures may be responsible, possibly through oxidative stress pathways, as they affect both reproductive health and health, more globally'. 'Without knowing the exact causes of the infertility and the cell functions affected, it is difficult to develop medical interventions or new drugs to treat the problem(s),' Dolores Lamb, co-director of the research learning centre at Children's Mercy Kansas City, a hospital in the US, told Euronews Health. 'The common link between infertility and the increased health risks of men with infertility is currently under active research investigation,' Lamb added.
Euronews
08-03-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Men with higher quality sperm may have longer lifespan, new study finds
The quality of semen could be an indicator of overall health for men, experts told Euronews Health. ADVERTISEMENT Men with better sperm quality may live longer lives, according to a new study. Researchers analysed data from nearly 80,000 Danish men with a follow-up of up to 50 years. The men had had their semen quality assessed in the laboratory due to couple infertility. The analysis looked at semen volume, sperm concentration, and the proportion of motile sperm - meaning sperm that moved efficiently - and had a normal shape. Those with a higher number of motile sperm had a life expectancy that was two to three years longer than men with the lowest number of motile sperm, according to the findings published in the journal Human Reproduction. 'In absolute terms, men with a total motile count of more than 120 million lived 2.7 years longer than men with a total motile count of between zero and five million,' Dr Lærke Priskorn, a senior researcher at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark and the study's lead author, said in a statement. 'The lower the semen quality, the lower the life expectancy. This association was not explained by any diseases in the ten years before semen quality assessment or the men's educational level,' she added. Related Scientists link male infertility to air pollution and female infertility to noise pollution A potential health indicator for men One hypothesis to explain the link is that semen quality could work as an indicator of men's overall health. Previous research cited by the team found that men with a lower sperm concentration were also hospitalised seven years earlier on average, 'underlining that men with impaired semen quality as a group not only can expect to die earlier but also to live fewer healthy years'. 'The current findings corroborate and add to the limited albeit growing body of research showing that semen quality is an important marker of current health and likely predictive of future health across the lifespan,' Dr Germaine Buck Louis, dean of the College of Health at George Mason University in the US, told Euronews Health in an email. 'Greater clinical awareness is evolving and has prompted some authors to call for semen quality being considered the 6th vital sign,' the expert, who was not involved in the study, added. The typical vital signs measuring the body's basic functions are temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. Related AI could be used to improve success of IVF as many struggle with infertility The study does not identify the underlying causes of the difference in life expectancy, but Louis said that 'environmental exposures may be responsible, possibly through oxidative stress pathways, as they affect both reproductive health and health, more globally'. 'Without knowing the exact causes of the infertility and the cell functions affected, it is difficult to develop medical interventions or new drugs to treat the problem(s),' Dolores Lamb, co-director of the research learning centre at Children's Mercy Kansas City, a hospital in the US, told Euronews Health. 'The common link between infertility and the increased health risks of men with infertility is currently under active research investigation,' Lamb added.
CNN
05-03-2025
- Health
- CNN
Sperm quality linked to living longer, new study finds
People who have higher levels of strong, agile sperm may live nearly three years longer than those with poor swimmers incapable of making it to their destination, according to new research. The large-scale study followed more than 78,000 men for 50 years. The ability of sperm to properly swim through the female reproductive tract to reach and fertilize an egg is called motility. 'In absolute terms, men with a total motile count of more than 120 million (per milliliter of semen) lived 2.7 years longer than men with a total motile count of between 0 and 5 million,' said lead study author Lærke Priskorn, a researcher and doctoral candidate at Copenhagen University Hospital — Rigshospitalet in Denmark, in a statement. To translate that into ages, a man with extremely poor sperm motility might be expected to live up to 77.6 years, while a man with extremely high motility might survive to 80.3 years, according to the study published Tuesday in the journal Human Reproduction. 'The fact that there is an association between semen quality and longevity is an important finding,' said Dr. Michael Eisenberg, professor of urology and director of male reproductive medicine and surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. He was not involved in the new research. 'There have been prior studies that suggest this link between reproductive health and overall health,' Eisenberg said in an email. Could sperm count be a 'canary in the mine'? In the new report, researchers compared the quality of sperm samples taken between 1965 and 2015 from men undergoing infertility testing in Copenhagen. The quality of the men's sperm was then compared with national medical records gathered by the Danish national health service. 'The lower the semen quality, the lower the life expectancy,' Priskorn said. 'This association was not explained by any diseases in the ten years before semen quality assessment or the men's educational level.' Motility counts are typically provided in percentages, not total numbers. The World Health Organization considers a man's sperm normal if about 42% of the sperm in each sample of ejaculate is capable of swimming to their destination. However, a motility count of less than 5 million per milliliter of semen is associated with a severe case of oligospermia, or low sperm count, which often leads to male infertility, the study said. A sperm motility of about 125 million per milliliter of semen is normal for a fertile male, Eisenberg said. However, that doesn't guarantee male fertility, experts say. If not for fertility, why would testing semen be a benefit? Because it could also be a marker for male health problems at younger ages, said John Aitken, a distinguished professor emeritus from the School of Environmental and Life Sciences at the University of Newcastle, Australia, who was not connected to the study. 'In men, it appears to be their semen profile that is providing the most significant information concerning their future health and wellbeing,' Aitken wrote in an editorial published alongside the study. 'If spermatozoa really are the canaries in the coal mine of male health, the obvious question to ask is, why?' Aitken posited. 'What possible factors could link the ultimate life expectancy of males with the quality of their semen profile in early adulthood?' Oxidative stress is one possibility According to Aitken, one answer explaining the association might be oxidative stress, caused when free radicals run rampant. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage DNA and cellular function and lead to cell death throughout the body, including the testes and sperm. 'Any factor (genetic, immunological, metabolic, environmental or lifestyle) that enhances overall levels of oxidative stress, could reasonably be expected to drive changes in the semen profile and subsequent patterns of mortality,' Aitken posited. Smoking, excessive alcohol, sun exposure, pesticides, industrial chemicals and air pollutants are just a few of the ways free radicals are activated, according to the National Cancer Institute. The body does have a way to fight back — with antioxidants. Nicknamed 'free radical scavengers,' antioxidants can prevent and repair damage caused by some types of free radicals, experts say. While supplements have failed to show promise against free radicals, fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains with key vitamins and minerals are excellent sources of antioxidants, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Citrus fruits, red and green peppers, and broccoli are full of the antioxidant vitamin C, while nuts, sunflower seeds, spinach and broccoli are good sources of vitamin E, another antioxidant, the clinic states on its website. Salmon and tuna contain selenium, as does brown rice, eggs and whole wheat bread. Beta carotene, another antioxidant, can be found in carrots, apricots, kale, mangos and sweet potatoes.
CNN
05-03-2025
- Health
- CNN
Sperm quality linked to living longer, new study finds
People who have higher levels of strong, agile sperm may live nearly three years longer than those with poor swimmers incapable of making it to their destination, according to new research. The large-scale study followed more than 78,000 men for 50 years. The ability of sperm to properly swim through the female reproductive tract to reach and fertilize an egg is called motility. 'In absolute terms, men with a total motile count of more than 120 million (per milliliter of semen) lived 2.7 years longer than men with a total motile count of between 0 and 5 million,' said lead study author Lærke Priskorn, a researcher and doctoral candidate at Copenhagen University Hospital — Rigshospitalet in Denmark, in a statement. To translate that into ages, a man with extremely poor sperm motility might be expected to live up to 77.6 years, while a man with extremely high motility might survive to 80.3 years, according to the study published Tuesday in the journal Human Reproduction. 'The fact that there is an association between semen quality and longevity is an important finding,' said Dr. Michael Eisenberg, professor of urology and director of male reproductive medicine and surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. He was not involved in the new research. 'There have been prior studies that suggest this link between reproductive health and overall health,' Eisenberg said in an email. Could sperm count be a 'canary in the mine'? In the new report, researchers compared the quality of sperm samples taken between 1965 and 2015 from men undergoing infertility testing in Copenhagen. The quality of the men's sperm was then compared with national medical records gathered by the Danish national health service. 'The lower the semen quality, the lower the life expectancy,' Priskorn said. 'This association was not explained by any diseases in the ten years before semen quality assessment or the men's educational level.' Motility counts are typically provided in percentages, not total numbers. The World Health Organization considers a man's sperm normal if about 42% of the sperm in each sample of ejaculate is capable of swimming to their destination. However, a motility count of less than 5 million per milliliter of semen is associated with a severe case of oligospermia, or low sperm count, which often leads to male infertility, the study said. A sperm motility of about 125 million per milliliter of semen is normal for a fertile male, Eisenberg said. However, that doesn't guarantee male fertility, experts say. If not for fertility, why would testing semen be a benefit? Because it could also be a marker for male health problems at younger ages, said John Aitken, a distinguished professor emeritus from the School of Environmental and Life Sciences at the University of Newcastle, Australia, who was not connected to the study. 'In men, it appears to be their semen profile that is providing the most significant information concerning their future health and wellbeing,' Aitken wrote in an editorial published alongside the study. 'If spermatozoa really are the canaries in the coal mine of male health, the obvious question to ask is, why?' Aitken posited. 'What possible factors could link the ultimate life expectancy of males with the quality of their semen profile in early adulthood?' Oxidative stress is one possibility According to Aitken, one answer explaining the association might be oxidative stress, caused when free radicals run rampant. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage DNA and cellular function and lead to cell death throughout the body, including the testes and sperm. 'Any factor (genetic, immunological, metabolic, environmental or lifestyle) that enhances overall levels of oxidative stress, could reasonably be expected to drive changes in the semen profile and subsequent patterns of mortality,' Aitken posited. Smoking, excessive alcohol, sun exposure, pesticides, industrial chemicals and air pollutants are just a few of the ways free radicals are activated, according to the National Cancer Institute. The body does have a way to fight back — with antioxidants. Nicknamed 'free radical scavengers,' antioxidants can prevent and repair damage caused by some types of free radicals, experts say. While supplements have failed to show promise against free radicals, fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains with key vitamins and minerals are excellent sources of antioxidants, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Citrus fruits, red and green peppers, and broccoli are full of the antioxidant vitamin C, while nuts, sunflower seeds, spinach and broccoli are good sources of vitamin E, another antioxidant, the clinic states on its website. Salmon and tuna contain selenium, as does brown rice, eggs and whole wheat bread. Beta carotene, another antioxidant, can be found in carrots, apricots, kale, mangos and sweet potatoes.
CNN
05-03-2025
- Health
- CNN
Sperm quality linked to living longer, new study finds
People who have higher levels of strong, agile sperm may live nearly three years longer than those with poor swimmers incapable of making it to their destination, according to new research. The large-scale study followed more than 78,000 men for 50 years. The ability of sperm to properly swim through the female reproductive tract to reach and fertilize an egg is called motility. 'In absolute terms, men with a total motile count of more than 120 million (per milliliter of semen) lived 2.7 years longer than men with a total motile count of between 0 and 5 million,' said lead study author Lærke Priskorn, a researcher and doctoral candidate at Copenhagen University Hospital — Rigshospitalet in Denmark, in a statement. To translate that into ages, a man with extremely poor sperm motility might be expected to live up to 77.6 years, while a man with extremely high motility might survive to 80.3 years, according to the study published Tuesday in the journal Human Reproduction. 'The fact that there is an association between semen quality and longevity is an important finding,' said Dr. Michael Eisenberg, professor of urology and director of male reproductive medicine and surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. He was not involved in the new research. 'There have been prior studies that suggest this link between reproductive health and overall health,' Eisenberg said in an email. Could sperm count be a 'canary in the mine'? In the new report, researchers compared the quality of sperm samples taken between 1965 and 2015 from men undergoing infertility testing in Copenhagen. The quality of the men's sperm was then compared with national medical records gathered by the Danish national health service. 'The lower the semen quality, the lower the life expectancy,' Priskorn said. 'This association was not explained by any diseases in the ten years before semen quality assessment or the men's educational level.' Motility counts are typically provided in percentages, not total numbers. The World Health Organization considers a man's sperm normal if about 42% of the sperm in each sample of ejaculate is capable of swimming to their destination. However, a motility count of less than 5 million per milliliter of semen is associated with a severe case of oligospermia, or low sperm count, which often leads to male infertility, the study said. A sperm motility of about 125 million per milliliter of semen is normal for a fertile male, Eisenberg said. However, that doesn't guarantee male fertility, experts say. If not for fertility, why would testing semen be a benefit? Because it could also be a marker for male health problems at younger ages, said John Aitken, a distinguished professor emeritus from the School of Environmental and Life Sciences at the University of Newcastle, Australia, who was not connected to the study. 'In men, it appears to be their semen profile that is providing the most significant information concerning their future health and wellbeing,' Aitken wrote in an editorial published alongside the study. 'If spermatozoa really are the canaries in the coal mine of male health, the obvious question to ask is, why?' Aitken posited. 'What possible factors could link the ultimate life expectancy of males with the quality of their semen profile in early adulthood?' Oxidative stress is one possibility According to Aitken, one answer explaining the association might be oxidative stress, caused when free radicals run rampant. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage DNA and cellular function and lead to cell death throughout the body, including the testes and sperm. 'Any factor (genetic, immunological, metabolic, environmental or lifestyle) that enhances overall levels of oxidative stress, could reasonably be expected to drive changes in the semen profile and subsequent patterns of mortality,' Aitken posited. Smoking, excessive alcohol, sun exposure, pesticides, industrial chemicals and air pollutants are just a few of the ways free radicals are activated, according to the National Cancer Institute. The body does have a way to fight back — with antioxidants. Nicknamed 'free radical scavengers,' antioxidants can prevent and repair damage caused by some types of free radicals, experts say. While supplements have failed to show promise against free radicals, fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains with key vitamins and minerals are excellent sources of antioxidants, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Citrus fruits, red and green peppers, and broccoli are full of the antioxidant vitamin C, while nuts, sunflower seeds, spinach and broccoli are good sources of vitamin E, another antioxidant, the clinic states on its website. Salmon and tuna contain selenium, as does brown rice, eggs and whole wheat bread. Beta carotene, another antioxidant, can be found in carrots, apricots, kale, mangos and sweet potatoes.
