Food intake and its relationship with semen quality: a case-control study
Received 5 October 2007; received in revised form 20 December 2007; accepted 2 January 2008. published online 04 March 2008.
Objective
To compare dietary habits in normospermic and oligoasthenoteratospermic patients attending a reproductive assisted clinic.
Design
An observational, analytical case-control study.
Setting
Private fertility clinics.
Patient(s)
Thirty men with poor semen quality (cases) and 31 normospermic control couples attending our fertility clinics.
Intervention(s)
We recorded dietary habits and food consumption using a food frequency questionnaire adapted to meet specific study objectives. Analysis of semen parameters, hormone levels, Y microdeletions, and karyotypes were also carried out.
Main Outcome Measure(s)
Frequency of intake food items were registered in a scale with nine categories ranging from no consumption to repeated daily consumption.
Result(s)
Controls had a higher intake of skimmed milk, shellfish, tomatoes, and lettuce, and cases consumed more yogurt, meat products, and potatoes. In the logistic regression model cases had lower intake of lettuce and tomatoes, fruits (apricots and peaches), and significantly higher intake of dairy and meat processed products.
Conclusion(s)
Frequent intake of lipophilic foods like meat products or milk may negatively affect semen quality in humans, whereas some fruits or vegetables may maintain or improve semen quality.
aDepartment of Reproductive Biology and Medicine, Instituto Bernabeu, Alicante, Spain
dReproductive Medicine Chair, University of Miguel Hernández de Elche-Instituto Bernabeu, Alicante, Spain
bDivision of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Espinardo (Murcia), Spain
cDepartment of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain
Reprint requests: Jaime Mendiola, Ph.D., Department of Reproductive Biology. Instituto Bernabeu, 03016 Alicante, Spain (FAX: 34965151328).
J.M. has nothing to disclose. A.M.T.-C. has nothing to disclose. J.M.M.-G. has nothing to disclose. J.T. has nothing to disclose. M.R. has nothing to disclose. S.M.-G. has nothing to disclose. R.B. has nothing to disclose.
Partially supported by The Seneca Foundation, Regional Agency of Science and Technology, Department of Education and Culture, Region de Murcia, Spain (Ref: 00694/PI/04) and the Reproductive Medicine Chair of the Miguel Hernandez University-Instituto Bernabeu.
ABSTRACT