Private MD News

High-fat diets may lower sperm count

Category: Infertility Testing-Male

Men who eat high-fat diets may benefit from considering FSH testing, as new research suggests that frequently consuming fatty foods can lower a man's sperm count and concentration.

A team of researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital analyzed sperm quality in 99 men. The results were compared to responses to dietary questionnaires. The results showed that those in the top third of fat consumption had 43 percent lower total sperm counts and 38 percent lower sperm concentrations.

Conversely, the researchers found that individuals who consumed more omega-3 fatty acids tended to have healthier sperm counts. This suggests that less healthy lipids like saturated fats may be more closely associated with fertility problems.

"If men make changes to their diets so as to reduce the amount of saturated fat they eat and increase their omega-3 intake, then this may not only improve their general health, but could improve their reproductive health too," said lead researcher Jill Attaman.

Still, she said the findings should be taken with a grain of salt due to the fact that the study only included 99 men. More research will be needed to confirm the association between increased fat consumption and low sperm count.