Gut Microbiota Influence on Male Reproductive Health
Summary
The gut microbiota exerts a profound influence on male reproductive health through multiple interconnected pathways. Microbial communities in the gastrointestinal tract produce metabolites—such as short-chain fatty acids, polyamines and phenolic acids—that modulate systemic metabolism, endocrine function and the testicular microenvironment. Dysbiosis, or imbalance of gut bacteria, is linked to impaired barrier integrity and endotoxaemia, which may promote inflammation and oxidative stress in the testes. Such disturbances can disrupt spermatogenesis, reduce sperm concentration and motility, and alter hormone levels, including testosterone. The “gut–testis axis” concept encompasses immune-mediated signalling via gut-derived exosomes and microRNAs, metabolic regulation through microbial metabolites, and direct modulation of cell death pathways such as ferroptosis. Interventions—including probiotic supplementation, dietary oligosaccharides and faecal microbiota transplantation—have demonstrated the capacity to restore microbial balance, enhance antioxidant defence, normalise metabolite profiles and rescue spermatogenic function. These findings underscore the global significance of gut microbiota in male fertility and suggest practical avenues for therapeutic development to address age-related decline, diet-induced dysfunction and disease-associated infertility.
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Gut Microbiota Influence on Male Reproductive Health publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in gut microbiota influence on male reproductive health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Gut microbiota: The community of microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract.
Dysbiosis: Imbalance or maladaptation of the gut microbial community.
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT): Transfer of processed stool from a healthy donor to a recipient to restore microbial balance.
Exosomes: Nano-sized vesicles released by cells that carry proteins, lipids and nucleic acids.
Ferroptosis: Iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by lipid peroxidation.
Spermatogenesis: The process of sperm cell development within the seminiferous tubules.
References
- The gut metabolite 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid rejuvenates spermatogenic dysfunction in aged mice through GPX4-mediated ferroptosis. Microbiome (2023).
- Gut‐Derived Exosomes Mediate the Microbiota Dysbiosis‐Induced Spermatogenesis Impairment by Targeting Meioc in Mice. Advanced Science (2024).
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