Abstract
The aim of this cross-sectional analysis is to investigate the associations between the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and semen quality parameters. To assess the adherence to the MD, the Trichopoulou score was used. Semen parameters were assessed as described in the 2010 WHO’s report and the results are showed across tertiles of MD adherence. A total of 106 participants were included. Compared to those in the lowest MD adherence tertile, participants in the top tertile had statistically significant higher BMI and waist circumference and consumed more energy, and also had statistically significant higher semen pH, and total sperm motility and progressive sperm motility percentages, and lower sperm immotility percentages. Moreover, percentage of total and progressive motility were significantly higher among those subjects in the higher adherence to MD in comparison with those in low-medium adherence category. The multivariable linear regression models evaluating the relationship between the sperm quality parameters and tertiles of MD adherence adjusted by age, energy and BMI showed that compared with the lowest tertile, men in the highest tertile had a higher percentage of total sperm motility [β non-standardized coefficient = 12.785]. These findings suggest that adherence to the MD was positively associated with sperm motility.
Highlights
Male reproductive health is declining year by year raising serious concerns and implications about human fertility[1]
One of the healthiest dietary patterns, described as the Mediterranean diet (MD)[17,18,19], is characterized by a high consumption of olive oil, fruit, nuts, legumes, vegetables and whole cereals; a moderate intake of fish, poultry and wine; and a low consumption of dairy products, red meat, processed meats, and sweets. Because this dietary pattern has been proved to have beneficial effects in several intermediate metabolic outcomes, such as inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance, all of which are related to sperm function, we can hypothesize that adherence to the MD can have benefits in terms of semen quality parameters
A positive relationship was exhibited between MD adherence and the percentage of total sperm motility after adjusting for confounders, indicating an increase of a 12.8% of total sperm motility in those participants in the top tertile of MD adherence [β non-standardized coefficient = 12.785; P-value = 0.037]. In this cross-sectional study conducted in healthy and young population we found that higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet, measured by the validated Trichopolou’s score, was associated with an increased sperm motility
Summary
Male reproductive health is declining year by year raising serious concerns and implications about human fertility[1]. One of the healthiest dietary patterns, described as the Mediterranean diet (MD)[17,18,19], is characterized by a high consumption of olive oil, fruit, nuts, legumes, vegetables and whole cereals; a moderate intake of fish, poultry and wine; and a low consumption of dairy products, red meat, processed meats, and sweets Because this dietary pattern has been proved to have beneficial effects in several intermediate metabolic outcomes, such as inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance, all of which are related to sperm function, we can hypothesize that adherence to the MD can have benefits in terms of semen quality parameters. The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between the adherence to the MD pattern and several recognized semen quality parameters (e.g. semen volume and pH, total sperm count and concentration, sperm motility and vitality, and sperm morphology) in healthy and reproductive-age males, using a validated MD score
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