Association of Urinary Mycotoxins with Sperm Quality: A Case-Control Study in Southern Nigeria
Friday Ebhodaghe Okonofua,
Lorretta Favour Chizomam Ntoimo,
Emmanuel Iyayi Unuabonah,
Titus Afred Makudali Msagati,
Oladiran Ayodeji,
Michael Aziken,
Akhere Omonkhua,
Victor Ohenhen,
Celestina Olafusi,
Moses O. Alfred
Affiliations
Friday Ebhodaghe Okonofua
Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI), University of Benin, Benin City 300213, Nigeria
Lorretta Favour Chizomam Ntoimo
Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI), University of Benin, Benin City 300213, Nigeria
Emmanuel Iyayi Unuabonah
Department of Chemical Sciences, Redeemer University, Ede 232101, Nigeria
Titus Afred Makudali Msagati
Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Science, Engineering & Technology, University of South Africa, The Science Campus, Corner Christiaan De Wet and Pioneer Drive, Roodepoort, Johannesburg 1709, South Africa
Oladiran Ayodeji
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Medical Sciences, Ilaje, Ondo 351104, Nigeria
Michael Aziken
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, University of Benin, Benin City 300213, Nigeria
Akhere Omonkhua
Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI), University of Benin, Benin City 300213, Nigeria
Victor Ohenhen
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Central Hospital, Benin City 300102, Nigeria
Celestina Olafusi
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Medical Sciences, Ilaje, Ondo 351104, Nigeria
Moses O. Alfred
Department of Chemical Sciences, Redeemer University, Ede 232101, Nigeria
The objective of this study was to determine the association between mycotoxins and the quality of spermatozoa in Nigeria. We designed a prospective case-control study involving 136 men diagnosed with reduced sperm count and quality in five infertility clinics in southwest Nigeria and 154 normal fertile controls. Sperm analysis was conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health OrganizationWHO, while Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry was used to assay three metabolites of mycotoxins (zearalenone, ochratoxin A, and deoxyvinelol) in the urine samples of cases and controls. The data were analysed with descriptive statistics and non-parametric linear regression. The results showed no overall significant difference in levels of these metabolites between the cases and control groups. In contrast, higher levels of zearalenone and ochratoxin A significantly decreased sperm motility in the cases. Similarly, an increase in the level of ochratoxin A decreased sperm morphology in the unadjusted model in the cases. We conclude that exposure to mycotoxins reduces the quality of spermatozoa (motility and morphology) in Nigerian men but may have no effect on sperm count. Efforts to reduce the exposure of men to mycotoxins are important interventions to improve sperm quality and reduce the prevalence of male infertility in the country.
