Table III.
Adjusteda semen quality parameters [mean (95% CI)] according to the intake of high or low-to-moderate pesticide residue fruits and vegetables.
| Quartile intake (range, servings/day) | Total sperm count (millions) | Sperm concentration (millions/ml) | Total motility (% PR + NP) | Progressive motility (% PR) | Sperm morphology (% normal) | Ejaculate volume (ml) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quartile of high pesticide residue fruit and vegetable intakeb | ||||||
| Q1 [0.2, 0.6] | 171 (133, 222) | 66.1 (49.1, 90.2) | 51.7 (44.3, 59.0) | 29.4 (24.4, 34.4) | 7.5 (6.3, 8.7) | 3.0 (2.6, 3.5) |
| Q2 [0.6, 0.9] | 156 (123, 197) | 55.4 (43.5, 70.7) | 48.0 (42.2, 53.8) | 26.9 (23.2, 30.7) | 6.4 (5.2, 7.6) | 3.1 (2.7, 3.5) |
| Q3 [0.9, 1.5] | 103 (81, 132)* | 37.6 (28.5, 49.5)* | 45.4 (38.5, 52.3) | 25.9 (21.3, 30.5) | 6.0 (5.1, 7.0) | 3.0 (2.7, 3.3) |
| Q4 [1.5, 3.6] | 86 (63, 118)* | 43.4 (31.7, 59.6) | 38.9 (29.5, 48.4) | 24.8 (16.5, 33.0) | 5.1 (3.9, 6.2)* | 2.2 (1.7, 2.6)* |
| P, trendc | 0.003 | 0.14 | 0.07 | 0.47 | 0.02 | 0.003 |
| Quartile of low-to-moderate pesticide residue fruit and vegetable intaked | ||||||
| Q1 [0.2, 1.4] | 119 (89, 158) | 49.8 (35.6, 69.5) | 44.7 (37.0, 52.4) | 26.8 (21.4, 32.2) | 5.7 (4.5, 6.9) | 2.8 (2.3, 3.3) |
| Q2 [1.4, 2.3] | 135 (101, 180) | 47.0 (34.8, 63.3) | 39.7 (33.1, 46.4) | 24.1 (17.8, 30.4) | 5.4 (4.4, 6.4) | 3.1 (2.8, 3.5) |
| Q3 [2.3, 3.1] | 109 (87, 136) | 42.7 (33.4, 54.6) | 46.0 (39.4, 52.6) | 26.6 (22.1, 31.2) | 6.6 (5.6, 7.6) | 2.8 (2.4, 3.3) |
| Q4 [3.1, 8.8] | 147 (108, 200) | 64.3 (46.0, 90.0) | 56.4 (47.3, 65.5) | 30.5 (24.4, 36.6) | 7.8 (6.4, 9.2) | 2.6 (2.1, 3.1) |
| P, trendc | 0.67 | 0.56 | 0.10 | 0.44 | 0.04 | 0.61 |
aAdjusted for total energy intake, abstinence time, age, BMI, moderate-vigorous physical activity, race, prudent and western dietary patterns, smoking status and history of varicocele.
bHigh pesticide residue fruits and vegetables were defined as a final score = 4, 5 or 6. Models were additionally adjusted for low-to-moderate pesticide fruit and vegetable intake.
cEstimated using median intake in each quartile as a continuous variable.
dLow-to-moderate pesticide residue fruits and vegetables were defined as a final score = 0, 1, 2 or 3. Models were additionally adjusted for high pesticide fruit and vegetable intake.
*P-value for trend <0.05 compared with men in the lowest quartile of intake.