Fertility and Sterility
Volume 93, Issue 4 , Pages 1128-1133, 1 March 2010

A low intake of antioxidant nutrients is associated with poor semen quality in patients attending fertility clinics

  • Jaime Mendiola, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Reproductive Biology and Medicine, Instituto Bernabeu, Alicante, Spain
    • Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Espinardo, Spain
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Dr. Jaime Mendiola. Division of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Murcia, 30100, Espinardo (Murcia), Spain (FAX: +34968363947).
    • ,
  • Alberto M. Torres-Cantero, M.D., Dr.P.H.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Espinardo, Spain
    • El Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Elche, Spain
    • ,
  • Jesús Vioque, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • El Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Elche, Spain
    • Department of Public Health, Miguel Hernandez University, Elche, Spain
    • ,
  • José M. Moreno-Grau, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain
    • ,
  • Jorge Ten, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Reproductive Biology and Medicine, Instituto Bernabeu, Alicante, Spain
    • ,
  • Manuela Roca, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Espinardo, Spain
    • ,
  • Stella Moreno-Grau, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain
    • ,
  • Rafael Bernabeu, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Reproductive Biology and Medicine, Instituto Bernabeu, Alicante, Spain
    • Reproductive Medicine Chair, Miguel Hernandez University–Instituto Bernabeu, Alicante, Spain

Received 26 August 2008; received in revised form 6 October 2008; accepted 27 October 2008. published online 14 January 2009.

Objective

To compare specific nutrient intake between normospermic and oligoasthenoteratospermic patients attending infertility clinics in two Mediterranean provinces of Spain.

Design

Case-control study.

Setting

Private fertility clinics in southeastern Spain.

Patient(s)

Thirty men with poor semen quality (case subjects) and 31 normospermic control subjects of couples attending our fertility clinics.

Intervention(s)

We recorded dietary habits and nutrient consumption using a food frequency questionnaire adapted to meet specific study objectives.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

We calculated nutrient intakes by multiplying the frequency of use for each food by the nutrient composition of the portion size specified on the food frequency questionnaire and by addition across all foods to obtain a total nutrient intake for each individual. Semen quality was assessed by measuring volume, concentration, motility, and morphology. Hormones levels were also analyzed in case and control subjects.

Result(s)

In the logistic regression, control subjects had a significantly higher intake of carbohydrates, fiber, folate, vitamin C, and lycopene and lower intakes of proteins and total fat.

Conclusion(s)

A low intake of antioxidant nutrients was associated with a poor semen quality in this case-control study of Spanish men attending infertility clinics.

Key Words: Food frequency, male infertility, antioxidants, vitamins

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 J.M. has nothing to disclose. A.T.-C. has nothing to disclose. J.V. has nothing to disclose. J.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.

 Supported in part by The Seneca Foundation, Regional Agency of Science and Technology, Department of Education and Culture of Murcia (Ref. 00694/PI/04), and the Reproductive Medicine Chair of Miguel Hernandez University–Instituto Bernabeu and El Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP).

PII: S0015-0282(08)04488-9

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.10.075

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 93, Issue 4 , Pages 1128-1133, 1 March 2010

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