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Poor diet kills sperm count and lowers testosterone, study says - CNN
The study looked at 2,935 Danish men of normal weight -- with a median age of 19 -- who were undergoing a physical to determine their fitness for military service (something all men in Denmark have to do after they turn 18).
Blood and sperm samples were taken, and the men completed a questionnaire that asked how often they had eaten 136 food items in the prior three months.
The study looked at four food patterns:
A link to the study:
Association of Dietary Patterns With Testicular Function in Young Danish Men
Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study, adherence to generally healthy diet patterns was associated with better sperm quality, with potentially more favorable fertility potential among adult men.
sperm quality has decreased substantially in the last few decades. According to a recent meta-analysis that included more than 185 studies,1 total sperm count has declined by 50% to 60% from 1973 to 2011 in Western countries, in line with a continued decline since the 1940s.2 In addition, some investigators have also reported a concomitant secular decline in serum testosterone levels.3 Although debate is ongoing about the underlying causes for these declines, there is a growing concern and evidence that environmental exposures such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals and air pollution or behavioral factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption could explain this decline.4
The study looked at 2,935 Danish men of normal weight -- with a median age of 19 -- who were undergoing a physical to determine their fitness for military service (something all men in Denmark have to do after they turn 18).
Blood and sperm samples were taken, and the men completed a questionnaire that asked how often they had eaten 136 food items in the prior three months.
The study looked at four food patterns:
- The "prudent," healthy pattern, in which fish, chicken, vegetables, fruit and water were mostly consumed.
- The "open-sandwich pattern," a more typically Danish diet with a greater intake of cold, processed meats, whole-grain breads, mayonnaise, cold fish, condiments and dairy.
- The vegetarian-like pattern, with a high intake of vegetables, soy milk and eggs, with little to no red meat or chicken.
- And the "unhealthy" Western pattern, with more pizza, snacks, french fries, sweets, sugar-sweetened drinks, processed and red meat, snacks and highly processed grains.
A link to the study:
Association of Dietary Patterns With Testicular Function in Young Danish Men
Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study, adherence to generally healthy diet patterns was associated with better sperm quality, with potentially more favorable fertility potential among adult men.
sperm quality has decreased substantially in the last few decades. According to a recent meta-analysis that included more than 185 studies,1 total sperm count has declined by 50% to 60% from 1973 to 2011 in Western countries, in line with a continued decline since the 1940s.2 In addition, some investigators have also reported a concomitant secular decline in serum testosterone levels.3 Although debate is ongoing about the underlying causes for these declines, there is a growing concern and evidence that environmental exposures such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals and air pollution or behavioral factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption could explain this decline.4
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