A low intake of antioxidant nutrients is associated with poor semen quality in patients attending fertility clinics.

OBJECTIVE

To compare specific nutrient intake between normospermic and oligoasthenoteratospermic patients attending infertility clinics in two Mediterranean provinces of Spain.

DESIGN

Case-control study.

SETTING

Private fertility clinics in southeastern Spain.

PATIENT(S): Thirty men with poor semen quality (case subjects) and 31 normospermic control subjects of couples attending our fertility clinics.

INTERVENTION(S): We recorded dietary habits and nutrient consumption using a food frequency questionnaire adapted to meet specific study objectives.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We calculated nutrient intakes by multiplying the frequency of use for each food by the nutrient composition of the portion size specified on the food frequency questionnaire and by addition across all foods to obtain a total nutrient intake for each individual. Semen quality was assessed by measuring volume, concentration, motility, and morphology. Hormones levels were also analyzed in case and control subjects.

RESULT(S): In the logistic regression, control subjects had a significantly higher intake of carbohydrates, fiber, folate, vitamin C, and lycopene and lower intakes of proteins and total fat.

CONCLUSION(S): A low intake of antioxidant nutrients was associated with a poor semen quality in this case-control study of Spanish men attending infertility clinics.