Power Up Your Sperm

Power Up Your Sperm



Everyone knows that pregnant women should focus on their health by eating lots of fruits and vegetables, so it really shouldn’t come as a surprise that the same foods appear to benefit men hoping to become fathers. Researchers at the University of Murcia in Spain recently published results of two studies on how diet affects quality of sperm. The studies showed that the antioxidants in fruits and vegetables improve sperm concentration, mobility and morphology and, at the same time, reduce oxidative stress that can negatively affect sperm.


The study included 61 men from couples who came to fertility centers -- 30 men had poor-quality semen, while 31 men had good-quality semen and acted as controls. Study author Jaime Mendiola, PhD, department of preventive medicine and public health, says that the men whose tests showed that they had the healthiest sperm concentration, motility and morphology were the ones who, overall, ate more vegetables, fruit and low-fat dairy products and less meat and full-fat dairy products. When I contacted Dr. Mendiola, he told me that one problem with the latter diet, rich in full-fat dairy and meat products, might be related to xenoestrogens (endocrine disruptors) that result from the growth-enhancers the animals are fed. If not combatted by a diet filled with antioxidants, these could negatively affect semen quality.

There has been concern about poor semen quality throughout Europe in the last 50 or so years. For instance, it is estimated that 40% of the young men in Denmark have semen quality that is below levels for optimal fertility. Dr. Mendiola speculates that this may be related to environmental or occupational pollutants, changes in lifestyle, exposure to toxins and dietary habits. His team is now planning a randomized controlled trial to corroborate how having a healthier diet would improve quality of semen. But men with baby-making on their minds don’t need to wait around for the results -- based on what we already know, we can conclude that eating a healthy balanced diet is a smart strategy for men and women who hope to be parents.

Source(s):

Jaime Mendiola, PhD, department of reproductive biology and medicine, Instituto Bernabeu, Alicante, and department of preventive medicine and public health, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Spain.