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Sugar Consumption Is Negatively Associated with Semen Quality.
Michal Efrat1,2, Anat Stein3,4, Haim Pinkas3,4
1Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ariel University, 40700, Ariel, Israel.
Reproductive Sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)
|May 23, 2022
Summary
High sugar intake, particularly from soft drinks and added sugars in food products, is linked to reduced sperm concentration. This study highlights a negative association between dietary sugar and semen quality.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive health
- Nutritional science
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Declining semen quality globally necessitates research into contributing lifestyle factors.
- Increased sugar consumption parallels observed decreases in male reproductive health indicators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between dietary sugar intake and semen quality parameters.
- To quantify the impact of specific sugar sources (soft drinks, added sugars) on sperm concentration.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 280 men undergoing semen analysis.
- Semen quality assessed using WHO criteria (volume, concentration, motility, morphology).
- Dietary intake evaluated via food frequency questionnaires (FFQ), with analysis of soft drink and added sugar consumption.
Main Results:
- A negative association was found between overall dietary sugar consumption and sperm concentration.
- Higher soft drink consumption correlated with significant decrements in sperm concentration (18-23%).
- Increased intake of added sugars in food products also showed a negative association with sperm concentration (15-17%).
Conclusions:
- Dietary sugar consumption, especially from soft drinks and added sugars, is negatively associated with sperm concentration.
- Findings suggest a potential detrimental effect of sugar on male fertility.
- Further research is warranted to explore causal mechanisms.
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