Nickel and Human Sperm Quality: A Systematic Review
Author Information
Author(s): Vinnikov Denis, Syurin Sergei
Hypothesis
Is there an association between exposure to nickel and sperm quality in humans?
Conclusion
The existing evidence does not confirm a clear adverse effect of higher nickel concentrations on sperm quality.
Supporting Evidence
- 19 studies from 23 publications were included in the review.
- Studies showed inconsistent results regarding the effects of nickel on sperm quality.
- Most studies were observational and lacked robust methodology.
Takeaway
This study looked at how nickel exposure might affect sperm quality, but the results were mixed and unclear.
Methodology
The authors systematically searched Pubmed, Scopus, and Embase for studies on nickel and sperm quality, assessing risk of bias and using PRISMA guidelines.
Potential Biases
High risk of bias due to unclear selection of cases and controls in case-control studies.
Limitations
Most studies were cross-sectional and not designed specifically to assess nickel's effects, leading to potential confounding and selection bias.
Participant Demographics
The majority of participants were young or middle-aged men, primarily from China.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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