Data_Sheet_1_Intake of ultra-processed foods and asthenozoospermia odds: A hospital-based case-control study.docx

BackgroundThe intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has increased rapidly in recent years. Evidence has suggested that UPFs has adverse effects on several health outcomes. This study aimed to first evaluate the association between the intake of UPFs and asthenozoospermia odds.
MethodsA hospital-based case-control study including 549 cases and 581 controls was performed in the infertility clinics of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from June 2020 to December 2020. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Food items were categorized by the NOVA classification system based on the degree of processing. Semen parameters were analyzed according to the World Health Organization guidelines.
ResultsThe highest tertile of UPFs intake (% of total energy intake) was positively associated with the odds of asthenozoospermia (odds ratio [OR] = 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12, 2.10; P for trend < 0.05), compared with the lowest tertile. Similar patterns were also found in subgroup analyses among participants with age ≥32 years (OR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.40), BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 (OR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.22), ever cigarette smoking (OR = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.14, 2.79), and ever alcohol drinking (OR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.72), and in sensitivity analyses by using absolute amount (g/day) to calculate the intake of UPFs.
ConclusionHigher consumption of UPFs was positively associated with the odds of asthenozoospermia. More studies are needed to confirm our findings.

研究背景：近年来，超加工食品（ultra-processed foods, UPFs）的摄入水平快速攀升。现有研究证据显示，超加工食品对多项健康结局存在不良影响。本研究旨在首次探讨超加工食品摄入与弱精子症（asthenozoospermia）患病风险比值之间的关联。

研究方法：本研究于2020年6月至2020年12月在中国医科大学附属盛京医院不孕不育门诊开展一项基于医院的病例对照研究，共纳入549例病例与581例对照。采用经过验证的食物频率问卷评估受试者的膳食摄入情况，依据加工程度通过NOVA分类系统对食物品类进行归类。精液参数检测参照世界卫生组织（World Health Organization, WHO）指南执行。

研究结果：以总能量摄入占比计，超加工食品摄入最高三分位组与弱精子症患病风险呈正相关，较最低三分位组的比值比（odds ratio, OR）=1.53；95%置信区间（confidence interval, CI）：1.12~2.10；趋势检验P<0.05。在年龄≥32岁、体重指数（body mass index, BMI）≥24kg/m²、曾吸烟者及曾饮酒者的亚组分析中，以及采用绝对摄入量（克/天）计算超加工食品摄入的敏感性分析中，均观测到相似的关联模式。

研究结论：超加工食品摄入水平升高与弱精子症患病风险呈正相关。未来仍需更多研究以验证本研究结果。