Male fertility is declining. Adding more Omega 3 to the diet may help
It’s probably fair to say that human fertility is one of the most important things there is. Without human fertility none of us would be here. And there is now increasing evidence that some male fertility problems may respond to increasing our intake of Omega 3 essential fatty acids.
There is evidence that over the last century male fertility has been declining. The sperm count of men who have been studied has been dropping gradually, and this obviously impacts on any individual male who is having problems with low sperm count.
Whilst there is not general agreement on the cause of this there are various theories, including the impact of various pesticides and herbicides and industrial chemicals, changes in diet and even an increase in our intake of soy milk. Reducing male fertility has been blamed on laptops, depression medications and all sorts of other factors.
The bottom line is that although we know male fertility, as evidenced by sperm count, is reducing, we are not 100 percent sure why.
However whether we know the cause or not if there are ways to improve male fertility then this is useful information indeed. And there is now evidence that sperm counts may be raised by use of supplements that contain essential fatty acids called Omega 3, or by adding more oily fish to the diet, thereby also increasing the intake of Omega 3. Fertility diets are common, however many are not backed by research.
However there is research evidence linking an increase in consumption of Omega 3 essential fatty acids to an increase in sperm count. Not only that but research is starting to understand that the type of fats that men eat directly influence their sperm count.
A study at Harvard University has found that men who eat larger amounts of saturated fats are more likely to exhibit a reduced sperm count whereas those who eat a diet rich in polyunsaturated fats, including the Omega 3 essential fatty acids, were more likely to exhibit an increased sperm count.
In the study at Harvard University 91 men were studied, each of them having sought fertility treatment, therefore with a demonstrated fertility problem.
These men had levels of fats in their sperm and seamen measured, and the researchers were able to demonstrate that men with higher amounts of saturated fat as well as monounsaturated fat, had a decreased sperm concentration, whilst those with a higher level of polyunsaturated fats had both better sperm movement as well as shape.
Of course that doesn’t clearly demonstrate the cause, that is probably a matter for more study. However it does suggest that a man’s diet does affect his fertility, and in particular if he is trying to start a family, it is better to concentrate on a diet low in saturated fats and monounsaturated fats and higher in polyunsaturated fats and in particular Omega 3. Read the rest of this entry
To find out more about Peter Click Here 
