Study: A healthy male diet can increase the success of artificial insemination
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The potential for successful in vitro fertilization increases if men adhere to a diet rich in fruits and grains, low in red meat, alcohol and coffee, according to Brazilian scientists.
It has long been known that women's reproductive problems are associated with body weight, smoking and drinking alcohol. Now, scientists began to study risk factors related to men during IVF treatment.
"The concentration of sperm was adversely affected by the body mass index (BMI) and alcohol consumption, and positively - the consumption of cereals and the number of meals a day," said Edson Borges from the Fertility Center in São Paulo. "The mobility of spermatozoa is adversely affected by body mass index, alcohol consumption and smoking, while the consumption of fruits and grains is positive."
The study involved 250 men who, with their partners, underwent infertility treatment using the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The researchers conducted a survey of men to find out how often they ate fruits and vegetables, beans, grains, meat and fish, and how often they used alcohol and smoked. They also took samples of male sperm to analyze the quality of the sperm in each individual case.
Egg cells were successfully fertilized in about 75% of cases of the total number of cases, and only four out of ten women became pregnant during the study.
The results of the study showed that overweight and alcohol consumption led to a lower concentration of sperm and sperm motility, while smoking only negatively affected the motility of the spermatozoa. The intake of alcohol and coffee was associated with a lower chance of fertilization.
In addition, the success rates of embryo implantation and the frequency of pregnancy were significantly lower if men consumed a lot of red meat.
On the other hand, the use of grain crops - for example, wheat, oats or barley - led to an improvement in the concentration and mobility of spermatozoa. The use of fruit - increased speed and maneuverability of spermatozoa.
"We are talking about a healthy lifestyle and trying to eliminate any of the factors that are harmful to health, but I think that most doctors usually tend to make the woman as healthy as possible," said Lynn Westphal, a Stanford specialist University in Palo Alto (USA). "I think that this is really interesting data that show the influence of the man's way of life on the success of ICSI."
The results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that certain vitamins, minerals and amino acids can help preserve or improve sperm quality, while the use of alcohol and certain hormones in meat products can be harmful to spermatozoa.
Couples who are being treated for infertility should know that their diet and lifestyle can affect their chance of having a successful pregnancy.
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