Young men who hope one day to become fathers should cut back on the unhealthy snacks. Scientists have found that feasting on pizza, chips and crisps could make them infertile.Before participating in the study all 188 male volunteers were assessed to ensure no other health factors could affect sperm quality.
Food questionnaires were completed, and participant diets were put into two categories. These were 'western' - a diet rich in red meat, refined carbs, sweets and energy drinks - and 'prudent' - a diet rich in fish, fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. Semen tests were then conducted to assess sperm movement, concentration and shape.
Adherence to a prudent diet was associated with higher sperm movement while the sperm of men with poor diets was found to be less likely to survive the journey to fertilize an egg.
A second study working with 100 male volunteers led by Dr. Jorge Chavarro, at the Harvard School of Public Health, revealed that a diet high in trans fat had lower sperm concentration levels. Trans fat levels found in the sperm and semen also increased.
Edward Kim, president of the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology said: 'We are still exploring the impact of nutrition on male fertility, but even these initial studies point to a link between a good diet and reproductive health for men.'
