Elevated seminal plasma leptin may correlate with varicocele presence and BMI

Humam D. Mohammed; Rana R. Al-Saadi; Estabraq A.R. Al-Wasiti

doi:10.1515/jbcpp-2025-0010

Article

Elevated seminal plasma leptin may correlate with varicocele presence and BMI

Humam D. Mohammed , Rana R. Al-Saadi and Estabraq A.R. Al-Wasiti

Published/Copyright: March 28, 2025

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From the journal Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology Volume 36 Issue 2-3

Abstract

Objectives

Male infertility affects 20–30 % of infertile couples worldwide, and varicocele being a common cause. The relationship between leptin, a hormone involved in energy homeostasis and reproduction, and male fertility parameters remains incompletely understood, particularly in the context of varicocele and obesity. Thus, the current study sought to assess the associations between seminal plasma leptin and other clinical and demographic data of infertile patients.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 90 men (29 with varicocele, 61 without) were evaluated from November 2023 to March 2024. Seminal plasma leptin levels were measured using ELISA. Study subjects were classified into three weight classifications using body mass index (BMI) measurements: normal weight, overweight, and obese. Semen analysis, reproductive hormones assessment, and correlation analyses were performed to examine relationships between leptin levels and various clinical parameters.

Results

Patients with varicocele demonstrated significantly higher seminal plasma leptin levels compared to those without (9.27 vs. 7.65 ng/mL, p<0.05), this association persisted following statistical adjustment for demographic and clinical variables. In addition, BMI was the strongest independent predictor of seminal plasma leptin levels (β=0.26, p<0.01). Interestingly, overweight individuals showed higher leptin levels than both normal weight and obese participants. A significant inverse relationship found between leptin concentrations and luteinizing hormone levels (ρ=−0.375, p<0.05), while a positive association was found with progressive motility of sperm (ρ=0.225, p<0.05).

Conclusions

Higher levels of leptin were found in seminal specimens of varicocele-diagnosed subjects and strongly correlate with BMI in this Middle Eastern population. These results together propose that leptin’s level in semen could be useful as a biological indicator for varicocele-associated male fertility issues.

Keywords: infertility; leptin; obesity; spermatozoa; varicocele

Corresponding author: Rana R. Al-Saadi, Department of Applied Embryology, High Institute for Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Al-Nahrain University, Kadhmiya, Baghdad, Iraq, E-mail: ranaalsaadi@st.nahrainuniv.edu.iq

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the staff of High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and ART for their support during the practical part of this work.

Research ethics: The current study was planned, conducted and reported In accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. It was also ethically approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies (No.: 0702-MM-2024H33 on May 9th 2023).
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study, or their legal guardians or wards.
Author contributions: RRA, HDM and EAA were designed the experiments, wrote the manuscript; RRA and HDM performed experiments and collected data, editing and prepare the manuscript for journal submission. All authors read, reviewed and approved the final version before submission. The corresponding author is RRA.
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
Conflict of interest: Authors declare no Conflicts of Interest.
Research funding: None declared.
Data availability: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, RRA, upon reasonable request.

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Received: 2025-01-08

Accepted: 2025-03-08

Published Online: 2025-03-28

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2025-0010

Keywords for this article

infertility; leptin; obesity; spermatozoa; varicocele