DIETARY PATTERNS AND THEIR IMPACT ON MALE INFERTILITY
Keywords:
nutrition, male infertility, dietary patterns, antioxidantsAbstract
Infertility is an inability to achieve a clinical pregnancy after regular, non-protected sexual intercourse for
a period of 12 months. Unfortunately, the global rate of both male and female infertility is racing within the last few
years. It is estimated that it affects 15% of reproductive age couples, and male infertility factors contribute in 45-
50% of the cases. Male infertility evaluation is important not only for defining infertility treatment strategies, but
also for men’s health itself as male infertility could be a predictor of future morbidity. The evaluation of infertile
men is by conventional semen analysis (sperm concentration, motility, and morphology). Sperm DNA fragmentation
is a specific analysis that can occur even though other sperm parameters are within normal limits. While genetic,
endocrine, congenital, intrauterine (e.g. maternal smoking), and demographic factors – such as age, smoking, and
heavy alcohol use – are risk factors for decreased sperm quality, there is increasing evidence that nutrition could also
play an important role.
There are many studies that are focused on isolated nutrient or a few nutrients or foods. However, diet and nutrition
are complex and multiple approaches are needed to examine the relationship between them and the risk for
infertility. Dietary pattern analysis is the approach that considers overall eating. Obesity and nutrition poor with
nutrient-rich food, resulting from an unhealthy lifestyle, negatively affect sperm quality and male fertility, as well as
a diet rich in saturated fatty acids and low in polyunsaturated fatty acids. The healthy dietary models, the
components of the diet, and nutrients have been studied as factors that clearly correlate with better sperm quality and
a lower risk of abnormalities in sperm parameters, such as sperm count, sperm concentration, motility, and lower
sperm DNA fragmentation. There is a direct association between antioxidant status and the production of reactive
oxygen species (ROS) in spermatozoa because the high concentration of ROS negatively affect sperm DNA, sperm
motility, and concentration.
The purpose of this review is to discuss the role of nutrient-dense foods and healthy dietary patterns on sperm
quality and male fertility. The food components that provide an antioxidant role, such as certain vitamins and
minerals are considered.
Understanding the biochemical mechanisms responsible for sperm quality will lead to more targeted and effective
therapeutic for male infertility. Therefore, it is advisable to have a varied and balanced diet based on vegetables and
fruit, fish and seafood, nuts, seeds, whole-grain products, poultry, and low-fat dairy products.
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