Improvements in Sperm Motility Following Low- or High-Intensity Dietary Interventions in Men With Obesity

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Nutritional Science
• Obesity Medicine

Background:

• Obesity is a significant risk factor for male infertility.
• Bariatric surgery has not demonstrated improvements in semen quality.
• Emerging evidence suggests low-energy diets (LED) may enhance semen quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a low-energy diet (LED) compared to a brief dietary intervention (BDI) in improving semen parameters in men with obesity.
• To assess the impact of dietary interventions on sperm motility in men with normal sperm concentration and oligozoospermia.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving men with obesity (aged 18-60) with either normal sperm concentration or oligozoospermia.
• Participants were randomized to either an 800 kcal/day LED for 16 weeks or a control BDI for 16 weeks.
• Semen parameters, including total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PM), were assessed at baseline and after 16 weeks.

Main Results:

• Both LED and BDI groups experienced significant weight loss compared to baseline.
• In men with normal sperm concentration, both LED and BDI led to significant increases in TM and PM from baseline.
• In men with oligozoospermia, both LED and BDI resulted in significant improvements in PM from baseline, and TM showed improvement in the LED group.
• No significant differences in post-intervention TM or PM were observed between the LED and BDI groups for either participant subgroup.

Conclusions:

• Both low-energy diets (LED) and brief dietary interventions (BDI) appear sufficient to improve sperm motility in men with obesity.
• The study highlights the potential of dietary interventions in managing male infertility associated with obesity.
• Further investigation is warranted to explore the long-term effects of paternal dietary interventions on fertility outcomes.