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Sperm quality may be affected by diet

Updated: 2009-06-18 20:52:29 CST Category: Infertility Testing-Male

by Laurent Castellucci

Diet, especially the amount of antioxidants consumed, plays an important role in semen quality, according to new research from Spain appearing in the journal Fertility and Sterility.

"A healthy diet is not only a good way of avoiding illness but could also have an impact on improving seminal quality," said lead author Jaime Mendiola of the University of Murica.

The researchers studied 61 men - 30 with reproductive problems and 31 who did not have such issues and compared their diets and took sperm samples for use in normal infertility tests.

The study found that men with good sperm quality ate more vegetables and fruit than those with lower sperm quality.

While some reports have interpreted the research to mean that men who eat too much red meat or full fat dairy products have poor sperm, the authors state that "people who consume more fruits and vegetables are ingesting more antioxidants, and this is the important point," according to Health Day.

Antioxidants, which are plentiful in fruits and vegetables, lower the level of oxidative stress that can affect semen quality, the researchers explained, and also improve sperm concentration and mobility.

The researchers do not yet know taking antioxidants by way of vitamin supplements is as effective.

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