Effect of diet on sperm quality in men

A study conducted in Denmark highlighted a correlation between a man's eating habits and the quality of his sperm. Denmark was chosen for this study due to its high health standards and the representativeness of the population for nutritional research. The study lasted five years, starting in 2015, and the results were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Main findings of the study

In total, 2,935 young men participated in the study. The results showed that

• Rational diet: men who consumed large amounts of vegetables, fruits, fish, and chicken had the highest sperm count. These participants had between 146 and 183 million sperm in a single semen sample, which is well above the minimum threshold for normozoospermia set by WHO (39 million sperm).
• Vegetarian approach: men who reduced their meat consumption but consumed vegetables, fish, eggs, and dairy products exhibited the second-best sperm quality.
• Traditional Danish diet: this group, which consumes a variety of meats, whole grain products, and dairy products, showed the greatest sperm motility.
• Western diet: men whose diets included a lot of red meat, fried foods, sweets, and soft drinks had the lowest rates. The sperm count ranged from 109 to 138 million, which is attributed to high levels of saturated fats, trans fats, and sugar, causing oxidative stress and inflammation.

Expert recommendations

Fabie Nassan, co-author of the study and researcher at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, emphasizes that diet plays a key role in the formation of highly fertile sperm. Along with other researchers from the University of Copenhagen, he points out that dietary changes are necessary to improve reproductive health.

Recommendations for men:

• Increase the consumption of fish, chicken, vegetables, fruits, and water.
• Reduce the consumption of pizzas, chips, processed meats, red meats, sweets, and energy drinks.

Effects of diet on the body

Adopting a healthy diet can lead to the following changes:

• Increased antioxidants in the body, which reduces oxidative stress and improves sperm quality.
• Maintaining normal sperm motility by improving the body's hydration.
• Reducing inflammation by decreasing the consumption of saturated fats and sugar.

The results of the study highlight that diet has a significant impact on male reproductive health. Dietary changes not only improve sperm quality but also increase the chances of successful conception. Recognizing the importance of nutrition and applying the recommendations of experts may be the key to improving health and achieving desired reproductive outcomes.

For more information on in vitro fertilization (IVF), see the section on treatments.