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Effectiveness of Exercise Training on Male Factor Infertility: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.

Sports health
January 1, 2022
Behzad Hajizadeh Maleki et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleMeta-AnalysisSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on male factor infertility and seminal markers of inflammation compared to other exercise interventions.

Results Summary

HIIT showed moderate effectiveness for improving pregnancy rate (RR = 4.63) and live birth rate (RR = 4.38) but ranked lower than other interventions like CET and MICT. It was also less effective for improving semen quality, oxidative stress, and inflammation markers compared to other training strategies.

Population

Fertile and infertile men (2641 participants across 7 trials).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (27)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
combined aerobic and resistance training (CET)
increase
pregnancy rate
fertile and infertile men
relative risk [RR] = 27.81
top-ranking interventions for pregnancy rate
#1
moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT)
increase
pregnancy rate
fertile and infertile men
relative risk [RR] = 26.67
top-ranking interventions for pregnancy rate
#2
resistance training (RT)
increase
pregnancy rate
fertile and infertile men
relative risk [RR] = 12.54
top-ranking interventions for pregnancy rate
#3
high-intensity continuous training (HICT)
increase
pregnancy rate
fertile and infertile men
relative risk [RR] = 5.55
top-ranking interventions for pregnancy rate
#4
high-intensity interval training (HIIT)
increase
pregnancy rate
fertile and infertile men
relative risk [RR] = 4.63
top-ranking interventions for pregnancy rate
#5
moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT)
increase
live birth rate
fertile and infertile men
relative risk [RR] = 10.05
top-ranking interventions for live birth rate
#6
resistance training (RT)
increase
live birth rate
fertile and infertile men
relative risk [RR] = 4.92
top-ranking interventions for live birth rate
#7
high-intensity interval training (HIIT)
increase
live birth rate
fertile and infertile men
relative risk [RR] = 4.38
top-ranking interventions for live birth rate
#8
combined aerobic and resistance training (CET)
increase
live birth rate
fertile and infertile men
relative risk [RR] = 2.20
top-ranking interventions for live birth rate
#9
high-intensity continuous training (HICT)
increase
live birth rate
fertile and infertile men
relative risk [RR] = 1.55
top-ranking interventions for live birth rate
#10
combined aerobic and resistance training (CET)
increase
semen quality parameters
fertile and infertile men
-
significantly better at improving
#11
moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT)
increase
semen quality parameters
fertile and infertile men
-
significantly better at improving
#12
high-intensity continuous training (HICT)
increase
semen quality parameters
fertile and infertile men
-
significantly better at improving
#13
resistance training (RT)
increase
semen quality parameters
fertile and infertile men
-
significantly better at improving
#14
high-intensity interval training (HIIT)
increase
semen quality parameters
fertile and infertile men
-
significantly better at improving
#15
combined aerobic and resistance training (CET)
increase
seminal markers of oxidative stress
fertile and infertile men
-
significantly better at improving
#16
moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT)
increase
seminal markers of oxidative stress
fertile and infertile men
-
significantly better at improving
#17
high-intensity interval training (HIIT)
increase
seminal markers of oxidative stress
fertile and infertile men
-
significantly better at improving
#18
high-intensity continuous training (HICT)
increase
seminal markers of oxidative stress
fertile and infertile men
-
significantly better at improving
#19
resistance training (RT)
increase
seminal markers of oxidative stress
fertile and infertile men
-
significantly better at improving
#20
combined aerobic and resistance training (CET)
increase
seminal markers of inflammation
fertile and infertile men
-
significantly better at improving
#21
moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT)
increase
seminal markers of inflammation
fertile and infertile men
-
significantly better at improving
#22
high-intensity interval training (HIIT)
increase
seminal markers of inflammation
fertile and infertile men
-
significantly better at improving
#23
resistance training (RT)
increase
seminal markers of inflammation
fertile and infertile men
-
significantly better at improving
#24
high-intensity continuous training (HICT)
increase
seminal markers of inflammation
fertile and infertile men
-
significantly better at improving
#25
combined aerobic and resistance training (CET)
increase
measures of body composition and VO
fertile and infertile men
-
significantly better at improving
#26
combined aerobic and resistance training (CET)
increase
male factor infertility
fertile and infertile men
-
highest probability of being the best approach
#27
Abstract

CONTEXT: Mounting evidence from the literature suggests that different types of training interventions can be successful at improving several aspects of male reproductive function in both fertile and infertile populations. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise training on male factor infertility and seminal markers of inflammation. DATA SOURCES: We searched PubMed, CISCOM, Springer, Elsevier Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, PEDro, Ovid (Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO), Sport Discus, Orbis, CINAHL, Web of Science, ProQuest, and the ClinicalTrials.gov registry for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that analyzed the impacts of selected types of exercise interventions on markers of male reproductive function and reproductive performance. STUDY SELECTION: A total of 336 records were identified, of which we included 7 trials reporting on 2641 fertile and infertile men in the systematic review and network meta-analysis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 1 (because this is a systematic review of RCTs). DATA EXTRACTION: The data included the study design, participant characteristics, inclusion and exclusion, intervention characteristics, outcome measures, and the main results of the study. RESULTS: The results of network meta-analysis showed that, compared with a nonintervention control group, the top-ranking interventions for pregnancy rate were for combined aerobic and resistance training (CET) (relative risk [RR] = 27.81), moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) (RR = 26.67), resistance training (RT) (RR = 12.54), high-intensity continuous training (HICT) (RR = 5.55), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) (RR = 4.63). While the top-ranking interventions for live birth rate were for MICT (RR = 10.05), RT (RR = 4.92), HIIT (RR = 4.38), CET (RR = 2.20), and HICT (RR = 1.55). Also, with the following order of effectiveness, 5 training strategies were significantly better at improving semen quality parameters (CET > MICT > HICT > RT > HIIT), seminal markers of oxidative stress (CET > MICT > HIIT > HICT > RT), seminal markers of inflammation (CET > MICT > HIIT > RT > HICT), as well as measures of body composition and VO CONCLUSION: The review recommends that the intervention with the highest probability of being the best approach out of all available options for improving the male factor infertility was for CET.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
BiomarkersExerciseHigh-Intensity Interval TrainingHumansInfertilityInflammationMaleNetwork Meta-Analysis
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy46/10
Quality85/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations10
Citations/Year3.3
Relative Citation Ratio1.73
NIH Percentile69.9%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.25
Weight Score2.74
Normalized Score0.55