Dietary Fats, Minerals and Semen Quality and Quantity among Men Attending a Fertility Clinic: A Cross-Sectional Study in Iran

At least 50% of infertile couple's problems are related to male factor infertility and in many patients; nutritional problems have been related to decreased sperm quality. Thus, the present study aims to examine the association of dietary fat and mineral intake with semen quantity and quality.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 175 infertile men in Isfahan Infertility and Fertility Center, Iran.  Dietary intake of all patients was evaluated by validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and semen analysis was performed by standard protocol. Linear and quartile regression were used to determine the association of dietary fat and mineral intake with semen related factors.

There was a positive association between the sperm total count with iron (Fe) (Ptrend = 0.03), zinc (Zn) (Ptrends= 0.02), and selenium (Se) (Ptrend = 0.001). Men in the highest quartile of Zn and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) had higher sperm density (P < 0.05). Levels of Zn and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in participant's diet were also negatively related to DNA damage (Ptrend = 0.01 for Zn and Ptrend = 0.04 for DHA). Higher intake of saturated fatty acid (SFA) was associated with lower sperm density (Ptrend = 0.02) and higher intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) was associated with higher sperm totality (Ptrend = 0.02).

In this preliminary cross-sectional study, diets containing higher amounts of Fe, Zn, Se, MUFA, and DHA and lower amounts of SFA were associated with more favourable semen quality parameters.