Affecting about 17 per cent of couples, infertility is generally defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. Male infertility accounts for half of these cases, often as a result of poor quality sperm connected to lifestyle and diet choices,
When a man is referred for fertility tests, his sperm will be checked for morphology (the percentage of sperm that are normal), and sperm count (the total number of sperm in the sample). Abnormal sperm may have defects such as a large head or two tails, and are not capable of fertilising an egg. Medical treatment for male infertility is limited to surgical corrections or, in the case of infection, antibiotics, and current NICE guidelines state that there is “no effective treatment” available for unexplained male infertility.1 As a result, many couples may turn to complementary therapies, such as nutritional therapy.
Spermatogenesis
When a man is overweight, this can have a direct impact on his sperm count. The male hormone testosterone is critical for sperm production, but obesity is a major risk factor to testosterone levels. This is attributed to the release of an enzyme from enlarged fat cells called aromatase, which irreversibly converts the testosterone to the female hormone oestrodiol, resulting in testosterone deficiency and poor sperm production.
The testes can produce sperm at a rate of 1,000 sperm a second. As with most metabolic processes, this generates byproducts called reactive oxygen species (ROS) which, if left unchecked, can be a major cause of damage to maturing sperm. However, a complicated system of antioxidant enzymes produced in the testes provides an in-built protection mechanism, which can be supported by including a high amount of antioxidant-rich foods in the diet.
The antioxidant most associated with male fertility is zinc. This is naturally found in most animal products, but particularly in seafood, nuts, seeds and legumes. In rat studies, zinc has been shown to protect sperm even when the testes are exposed to potentially damaging heavy metals such as lead and cadmium.
This story is from the Summer 2016 edition of Optimum Nutrition.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Summer 2016 edition of Optimum Nutrition.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Gluten : Problem Protein Or Fad Food Fear?
The ‘gluten-free’ label is becoming a familiar sight. Mike Murphy looks at why more people are choosing to cut out this natural protein, even without doctors’ orders.
Summer Of
Summer is when we want to be out and about, as the warm embrace of the sofa on a cold winter’s night becomes a distant memory. So where do you go when the brain is willing but the body just can’t cut it at the same level of performance that it managed decades ago? Graeme Wilcockson reviews a few ways to satisfy those competitive weekend instincts that will tax both mind and body — yet leave you able to move on Monday morning
Eat For A Glow That Is More Than Skin Deep
Now that summer is here, it’s time to peel off the layers and make some vitamin D. But if your skin isn’t as peachy as you would like, or if you are worried about staying safe in the sun, find out how good nutrition may support your skin’s health. Maggie Charlesworth writes
Natural Beauty
If headlines about microbeads from cosmetics polluting our seas have got you wondering how you can do your bit for the environment, try using nature’s harvest to feed your skin. Hannah Maryse Robinson writes
Common Kitchen Practices Making Us Sick
Every year, thousands of us fall sick from food poisoning because of how we have handled food. Louise Scodie and Louise Wates look at common ways in which we are going wrong
Could Antioxidants Save Our Bacan?
Nitrates and nitrites have long been linked to cancer. We look at how they are part of a chain reaction that may not always be harmful to human health... So what’s the case with bacon?
Red Meat
Depending upon the headlines, red meat can be in or out of favour; we look at recent research.
The Big Sleep
With more demands on our time, sleep is becoming a poor relation. Jane Dawson investigates the associations between health, feeling good, and that all-important eight hours sleep a night.
Tea
Tea, especially the green variety, is often touted as a panacea for health and even weight-loss. Louise Wates puts the kettle on and looks at whether it is a reputation that is well-deserved.
When Bad Is Good
Social campaigner Mary Whitehouse abhorred it. Writer and actor Stephen Fry has publicly done and defended it. But how do you feel about swearing? Yeshi Dolma writes.
