Statins reduce male fertility

This study was published in Endocrine Abstracts 2010 22 P526

Study title and authors:

Effects of atorvastatin on male fertility

Hanae Pons-Rejraji^1,2, Benoit Sion¹, Florence Brugnon^1,2, Christine Artonne¹, Gérald Gouby³, Geneviève Grizard^1,2, Laurent Janny^1,2 & Igor Tauveron^4
1EA975, Laboratoire Biologie de la Reproduction, UFR Médecine, Université Clermont 1, Clermont-Ferrand, France; ²CHU Clermont Ferrand, Hôtel Dieu, Biologie de la Reproduction, CECOS, Clermont-Ferrand, France; ³Clermont-Ferrand, Délégation à la Recherche Clinique & à l’Innovation, Clermont-Ferrand, France; ⁴CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Hôpital Gabriel Montpied, Service d’endocrinologie, Clermont-Ferrand, France.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/0022/ea0022p526.htm

High levels of the enzyme Alpha-glucosidase are associated with higher percentages of sperm that have good motility.

The Acrosome is the "cap" on the head of the sperm that contains enzymes that make it possible for the sperm to penetrate the egg.

The aim of the study was to analyze the consequences on sperm parameters with atorvastatin (Lipitor) intake. The study included 17 men who were administered 10 mg/day of atorvastatin for five months. Various sperm parameters were measured before taking the treatment, after 5 months of treatment, and 3 months after its withdrawal.

The study found:
(a) Live spermatozoa percentage was reduced by atorvastatin by 8%.
(b) Concentrations of alpha-glucosidase were significantly decreased 3 months after ending the atorvastatin treatment.
(c) Significantly high concentrations of spermatozoa had spontaneously lost their acrosome 3 months after ending the atorvastatin treatment.

The results from the study indicate that atorvastatin treatment may reduce male fertility.