A Narrative Review of Heavy Metals and Sperm Quality: The Interplay with Antioxidant Imbalance and Reactive Oxygen Species.

Plain-language summary

This review set out to examine how heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium affect sperm quality and male fertility, focusing on their role in oxidative stress and antioxidant imbalance. It synthesized findings from various species, including humans, to explore how these metals disrupt hormone levels and sperm production by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) beyond what antioxidants can handle. The review concluded that heavy metal exposure, whether from environmental or occupational sources, harms sperm quality by tipping the balance toward oxidative damage, with antioxidants in seminal fluid like vitamins C and E, zinc, and selenium playing a protective role.

Key findings

• Heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium disrupt hormone levels needed for sperm production.
• Exposure to heavy metals increases reactive oxygen species (ROS), overwhelming antioxidant defenses in seminal fluid.
• This oxidative stress harms sperm quality and male fertility.