Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41438398›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of reproductive biomedicine2025

Diabetes and male infertility: A review of sperm chromatin damage and epigenetic effects.

Asieh Alaei, Mohammad Mehdi Azizi, Mansour Homayoun

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of reproductive biomedicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Asieh AlaeiDepartment of Anatomical and Molecular Biology Sciences, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Mohammad Mehdi AziziDepartment of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Mansour HomayounDepartment of Anatomical and Molecular Biology Sciences, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health concern impacting male fertility through detrimental effects on sperm chromatin structure and DNA integrity. This review discusses how DM impairs spermatogenesis, primarily through the induction of oxidative stress, which can result in significant DNA fragmentation and compromised chromatin integrity in spermatozoa. We examine evidence suggesting that even men with seemingly normal semen parameters might exhibit hidden sperm DNA damage if diabetic. The reviewed literature consistently reports elevated sperm DNA fragmentation indices and increased susceptibility to denaturation in diabetic men compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, the potential for paternal diabetes to influence offspring health through epigenetic modifications in sperm DNA is discussed. Studies in animal models and human subjects indicate alterations in sperm DNA methylation patterns and microRNA content, suggesting a plausible mechanism for the transgenerational transmission of metabolic traits. Finally, the review examines the potential benefits of diabetes treatment in improving sperm parameters and chromatin integrity. Evidence from clinical studies demonstrates that interventions, particularly intensive glycemic control, can lead to measurable improvements in sperm DNA integrity. A comprehensive search was conducted in major scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify studies examining the impact of DM on male fertility using keywords like "diabetes mellitus", "male infertility", "sperm chromatin structure", "DNA fragmentation", and "epigenetics". This review addresses the critical issue of how DM negatively impacts male fertility by altering sperm chromatin structure and DNA integrity. We explore the potential mechanisms involved and the impact of diabetes treatment on sperm quality. Additionally, the emerging concept of epigenetic inheritance and its potential role in this context is discussed.

Indexed as

Diabetes mellitusDNA fragmentationEpigenetics.InfertilitySpermatozoa

Identifiers

PMID41438398
PMCPMC12703028

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.