Nut Consumption and Sperm Quality in Healthy Men: Results From the Led-Fertyl Study

Nuts are rich in antioxidants and other bioactive compounds, and recent evidence suggests that their regular consumption may be associated with sperm quality. However, the current scientific evidence remains limited and inconsistent.

The study aimed to evaluate the association between nut consumption and sperm quality parameters in healthy men of reproductive age.

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the data from 222 young men enrolled in the Led-Fertyl study. Nut consumption was categorized as < 3, ≥ 3 to < 7, and ≥ 7 servings/week (1 serving = 30 g). The main outcomes were sperm quality parameters (sperm count, concentration, vitality, motility, and normal morphology). Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were fitted to analyze associations.

Total sperm count (β = 3.38; 95%CI: 1.59, 5.16) and concentration (β = 1.17; 95%CI: 0.15, 2.19) were higher among participants in the highest category of nut consumption (≥7 servings/week) compared to those in the lowest (< 3 servings/week). A similar association was observed when modeling nut consumption as continuous; each additional serving per day was associated with higher total sperm count and concentration (β = 2.38; 95%CI: 1.03, 3.72 and β = 0.83; 95%CI: 0.06, 1.59, respectively). A theoretical substitution of 1 serving/day of nuts with 1 serving/day of potato chips or pastries was associated with lower total sperm count and concentration. Furthermore, compared to participants in the lowest category of nut consumption, those in the highest were 75% less likely to have abnormal sperm motility (OR: 0.25; 95%CI: 0.07, 0.95) and 69% less likely to have seminogram abnormalities (OR: 0.31; 95%CI: 0.14, 0.68).

Our findings suggest that regular nut consumption is associated with higher total sperm count and concentration in young, healthy men of reproductive age.