Infertility affects 15% of the world population and is recognized by the World Health Organisation as a global health problem.
In a new study, researchers found that several foods and supplements could help improve fertility in men.
Supplementing the diet with selenium, zinc, fatty acids, omega-3 and coenzyme-Q10 is associated with an increase in spermatozoid concentration.
Supplementing the diet with selenium, zinc, omega-3, coenzyme-Q10 and carnitines is linked to an improvement in sperm mobility
Finally, selenium, fatty acids, omega-3, coenzyme-Q10 and carnitines have a positive effect on the morphology of spermatozoids.
In recent years, studies of sperm quality in different populations from developing countries have shown a decrease that could have consequences for the survival of the human species.
The decrease in sperm quality has been related to unhealthy lifestyles.
Stress, the consumption of drugs, tobacco and alcohol and unhealthy diets seem to be the principal modifiable factors.
Many fertility clinics offer dietary recommendations and supplements before providing their patients with in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
But these recommendations lack scientific evidence regarding the effect of dietary and nutritional supplements on sperm quality.
Recently, researchers at the Human Nutrition Unit of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) and the Pere i Virgili Health Research Institute (IISPV) have carried out the most extensive and systematic reviews.
They aimed to find the effects of different nutrients and dietary supplements on sperm quality and male fertility.
The team qualitatively analyzed the results of 28 nutritional studies involving 2900 participants.
They have concluded that supplementing the diet with omega 3 and coenzyme Q10 (in either liquid or tablet form) can have a beneficial effect on the number of spermatozoids in semen.
According to the researchers, their study suggests that dietary supplements have a modulating effect on sperm quality and provides an extensive and up-to-date review of the existing scientific evidence.
The results suggest that certain dietary supplements can have a beneficial effect on sperm quality.
But it remains to be demonstrated whether this increases the likelihood of conceiving a child naturally or through assisted reproduction techniques.
The researchers believe that further studies need to be carried out with larger samples so that a more accurate conclusion can be drawn.
The results are published in the scientific journal Advances in Nutrition.
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Source: Advances in Nutrition.
