March 4, 2025 from Medscape
Is Nutrition the Missing Link in Male Fertility?
With one in six people facing infertility and sperm concentration reportedly halved in the past 50 years, fertility has become a global public health issue. According to Professor Rachel Lévy of Sorbonne University, poor nutrition, obesity, and inflammation are key contributors to this reproductive crisis.
During a presentation at the Institut Benjamin Delessert, Lévy explored how targeted nutritional interventions may help improve sperm quality and fertility—particularly among men undergoing medically assisted procreation.
Modifiable Factors and Nutritional Opportunities
The link between body mass index (BMI) and sperm quality is well-established. Higher BMI is associated with reduced sperm counts and increased risks of oligozoospermia and azoospermia. But the damage may not be permanent. Clinical studies suggest that improvements in physical activity and dietary quality—especially adopting a Mediterranean-style diet—can positively influence sperm health.
Nutritional changes may also affect the sperm epigenome. Paternal diet before conception plays a role in DNA methylation, potentially influencing both fertility and early embryonic development.
Lévy emphasized that hormonal imbalances, oxidative stress, and inflammation all contribute to poor fertility outcomes—but also offer a window of opportunity. Comprehensive interventions have shown success in improving sperm quality, particularly DNA integrity, even without changes to sperm count or morphology.
Targeted Supplementation and AI Insights
To better understand these nutritional connections, Lévy’s team developed an AI-based “nutrifertility score” based on plasma levels of 13 antioxidant micronutrients. This score could distinguish between fertile and infertile men with over 80% accuracy. These markers—such as vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, selenium, and omega-3s—are potential intervention points.
When used appropriately, targeted supplementation has reduced sperm DNA fragmentation in clinical trials. However, experts caution that such supplements should be personalized and medically supervised, as no universal consensus exists on dosage or protocols.
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