Research on Obesity and Male Infertility Expands, with New Focus on Sperm DNA and Epigenetics

Dr. Nitin Kapoor, Professor and Head (Unit 1), Dept. of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Christian Medical College, Vellore (TN), India

Research is increasingly exploring how obesity may affect male reproductive health, with growing attention to sperm DNA damage, inflammation, gut microbiota and potential effects on future generations.

A bibliometric analysis mapped global research on obesity and male infertility, identifying emerging themes and shifts in scientific interest. The analysis included 1,222 publications retrieved from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, covering research published up to January 2026.

Scientific output increased substantially after 2012, reaching 126 publications in 2021. China contributed the largest number of papers, while the United States led in total citations and international research collaboration. The findings indicate growing interdisciplinary interest in the relationship between metabolic health and male reproductive function.

Keyword and citation analyses highlighted four major research areas: oxidative stress and sperm DNA damage, gut microbiota and testicular inflammation, paternal obesity-related epigenetic changes, and interventions targeting diet, physical activity and weight loss. Research is increasingly moving beyond conventional semen parameters to investigate sperm DNA integrity, reproductive hormones and potential implications for assisted reproductive technology outcomes.

The analysis also identified paternal preconception health and possible intergenerational effects as emerging areas of interest. However, these findings reflect research trends rather than establishing the effectiveness of specific interventions or proving that obesity-related epigenetic changes are transmitted across generations.

The authors highlighted the need for further mechanistic and clinical research to clarify these relationships. Although bibliometric analysis helps identify influential themes and knowledge gaps, its findings are limited by database selection, the exclusion of non-English publications and reliance on citation-based measures. Future studies could help translate these research priorities into evidence-based approaches to male reproductive health.

(Source: Wang J, Huang W, Tan M, Xu N, He Q, Sun G. Global research trends on the impact of obesity on male infertility: a bibliometric analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2026 May 11;13:1817082. )