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GSTM1 null genotype contributes to increased risk of male infertility: a meta-analysis

  • Genetics
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Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Many studies have investigated the association between Glutathione S-Transferase M 1 (GSTM1) null genotype and risk of male infertility, but the impact of GSTM1 null genotype on infertility risk is unclear owing to the obvious inconsistency among those studies. This study aimed to quantify the strength of association between GSTM1 null genotype and risk of male infertility.

Methods

We searched the PubMed, Embase and Wangfang databases for studies investigating the association between GSTM1 null genotype and risk of male infertility. We estimated pooled odds ratio (OR) with its 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) to assess this possible association.

Results

Twelve case–control studies with 1, 589 infertility cases and 1, 537 controls were included. Meta-analysis of total 12 studies showed that GSTM1 null genotype was associated with increased risk of male infertility (OR = 1.34, 95%CI 1.02–1.77, P = 0.036). In subgroup analysis of Caucasians, there was also an obvious association between GSTM1 null genotype and increased risk of male infertility (OR = 1.51, 95%CI 1.11–2.05, P = 0.006). Sensitivity analyses by sequential omission of individual studies or omitting studies without high quality did not significantly alter the overall pooled OR. Cumulative meta-analysis further showed a trend of more obvious association as information accumulated. No evidence of publication bias was observed.

Conclusion

Meta-analyses of available data suggest that GSTM1 null genotype contributes to increased risk of male infertility.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Hua Zhang, Meizhou People’s hospital, China, for her statistical support.

Funding

No external funding was either sought or obtained for this study.

Conflict of interests

None of the authors have any conflict of interests to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meizhou People’s hospital, Meizhou, 514031, China

    Wu Chengyong, Yang Man, Lin Mei, Li Liping & Wen Xuezhen

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  1. Wu Chengyong
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  2. Yang Man
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  3. Lin Mei
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Correspondence to Li Liping.

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Chengyong, W., Man, Y., Mei, L. et al. GSTM1 null genotype contributes to increased risk of male infertility: a meta-analysis. J Assist Reprod Genet 29, 837–845 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9790-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9790-2

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