Objective: The purpose of this study was to use the MR method to explore the causal relationship between 211 gut microbiota and male reproductive and sexual health.
Methods: The MiBioGen alliance published genome-wide association study (GWAS) related genetic variation data was used as instrumental variables (IVs) for gut microbiota, and the Finngen biobank GWAS related genetic variation data was used as IVs for male infertility, abnormal sperm, sexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, and testicular dysfunction. The inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method was used as the MR analysis method, the results were evaluated according to the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval of the effect measures, and data sensitivity analysis was performed.
Results: The results showed that 6 types of gut microbiota were related to male infertility, 12 types were related to abnormal sperm, 5 types were related to sexual dysfunction, 4 types were related to erectile dysfunction, and 4 types were related to testicular dysfunction. And there was no abnormality in the data sensitivity analysis.
Conclusion: The intestinal microbiota is closely related to male reproductive and sexual health.
Keywords: mendelian randomization study; intestinal microbiota; genome-wide association study; male infertility; male reproductive health.