The association between consumption of ultra-processed foods and sperm quality parameters: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

While recent studies suggest a correlation between unhealthy dietary patterns, oxidative stress, inflammation, and male infertility, the potential association between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and male infertility remains underexplored. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association between UPF intake and male infertility by evaluating sperm quality parameters.

METHODS

The participants (n = 260) of the current cross-sectional study were recruited from an infertility center in Isfahan Province, Iran. Four semen parameters-such as total sperm motility, sperm concentration, sperm volume, and normal sperm morphology-were evaluated. Also, the participants' food intake was assessed using a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire. Moreover, the NOVA system was employed to calculate the UPF index. The association between UPFs and sperm parameters was analyzed using logistic regression.

RESULTS

In the crude model, no significant associations were observed between the second and last tertiles of UPFs with abnormalities in sperm concentration, total motility, and morphology (p > 0.05 for all). However, after adjusting for age, marriage duration, body mass index, physical activity, depression, anxiety, stress, energy intake, cigarette history, and mineral and vitamin supplements, a significantly higher association was identified between the second tertile of UPFs and abnormalities in sperm concentration (odds ratio (OR) = 3.962, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.345-11.670, p = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, although the analysis did not find significant associations between UPF consumption and impaired sperm motility and morphology, it revealed significant trends linking higher UPF intake with lower sperm concentration. If future studies confirm these results, they could aid in designing interventional and preventive programs aimed at addressing infertility in men of reproductive age in the field of public health.