Scientific Updates /
Mediterranean diets associated with improved male fertility
23 March 2017
2016 Alpro Foundation Award for best scientific publication
Dimitrios Karayiannis, Harokopio University Athens, Greece
More research is being undertaken to understand the factors that influence male fertility. Apart from genetic or medical risk factors, lifestyle factors, especially diet, have been shown to play a role in male fertility.
Dr Karayiannis studied how adherence to the Mediterranean diet can influence male fertility.(1)
Study design
The dietary and lifestyle habits of 225 Greek men aged 26-55 years attending a fertility clinic in Greece were compared to their semen quality. Dietary patterns were assessed using the MedDiet Score to reflect adherence to the Mediterranean diet. The men were divided into three groups depending on their MedDiet Score: ≤30 poor adherence (n=76), >30 and <37 moderate (n=83) and ≥37= high adherence (n=66). Semen quality was evaluated according to World Health Organization 2010 guidelines.
Key findings
The sperm quality of men in the lowest (≤30 MedScore) and highest (≥37 MedScore) adherence to the Mediterranean diet were compared. Sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility and percent morphologically normal sperm cells were significantly higher in the men with the highest adherence to the traditional Mediterranean plant-based diet.
Alongside other lifestyle factors, it is clear that dietary advise should be an integral part of the intervention provided to sub-fertile men: “Diet modification and switching to a more plant-based diet, rich in legumes, whole grains, nuts, vegetables and fruits and a low intake of meat and saturated fatty acids, can be an easy way to improve sperm quality” according to Dr. Karayiannis.
“Whether the beneficial effect of a Mediterranean diet on sperm parameters translates into a higher probability of successful conception remains to be elucidated."
Conclusion
This study shows that greater adherence to the Mediterranean plant-based eating pattern could exert favourable effects on sperm quality: higher sperm concentration, total sperm count and better sperm motility. A review paper from 2020 further confirmed the role of diet on semen quality.(2) Dietary recommendations should focus on improving intakes of vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, wholegrains, other fibre-rich products, and reducing saturated fat intakes.
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References
Karayiannis D, Kontogianni MD, Mendorou C, et al. Association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and semen quality parameters in male partners of couples attempting fertility. Hum Reprod. 2017;32(1):215-222. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dew288
Skoracka K, et al, Diet and Nutritional Factors in Male (In)fertility—Underestimated Factors. J. Clin. Med. 2020, 9, 1400; doi:10.3390/jcm9051400 Diet and Nutritional Factors in Male (In)fertility-Underestimated Factors - PubMed (nih.gov)
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Original research
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