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Dietary patterns are positively associated with semen quality.
Michal Efrat1, Anat Stein2, Haim Pinkas2
1Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, West Bank, Israel; Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
Fertility and Sterility
|May 21, 2018
Summary
Healthy dietary patterns, including the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), alternate Mediterranean Diet score (aMED), and Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), are linked to improved sperm quality. The Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) showed the strongest association.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive health
- Nutritional science
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Semen quality is crucial for male fertility.
- Dietary patterns significantly influence overall health and reproductive outcomes.
- Understanding the impact of specific dietary patterns on semen quality is essential for fertility management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between adherence to established dietary patterns and semen quality parameters in men.
- To compare the effectiveness of four dietary indexes: Healthy Eating Index (HEI), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), alternate Mediterranean Diet score (aMED), and Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 280 men attending a fertility center.
- Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).
- Nutritional indexes (HEI, DASH, aMED, AHEI) were calculated, and semen analyses were performed.
Main Results:
- Higher adherence to HEI, AHEI, aMED, and DASH was associated with improved sperm concentration, morphology, total count, and motility.
- Specifically, the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) demonstrated the strongest positive associations with sperm parameters.
- Men in the highest quartiles of these indexes showed significantly better semen quality compared to those in the lowest quartiles.
Conclusions:
- Adherence to the evaluated dietary patterns is linked to enhanced sperm quality.
- The Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) is particularly effective and recommended for public nutritional guidance to improve semen quality.
- Dietary interventions represent a promising strategy for male reproductive health optimization.
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