Mostafa Hamza, Mateu-Fabregat Javier, Benchohra Asmae, Novau-Ferré Nil, Panisello Laura, Bulló Mònica
Nutrition and Metabolic Health Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Rovira i Virgili University (URV), 43201 Reus, Spain.
Institute of Health Pere Virgili (IISPV), 43201 Reus, Spain.
Nutrients. 2025 Aug 27;17(17):2785. doi: 10.3390/nu17172785.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Low semen quality and male infertility are critical global health issues. Emerging research highlights that nutritional factors could play a significant role in determining reproductive outcomes. Understanding and optimizing these dietary influences, including the role of polyphenols, is crucial for developing targeted strategies to improve male fertility. We aimed to explore the relationship between the intake of different classes of polyphenols and semen quality indicators in a cohort of healthy young males.
This is a secondary analysis involving 106 male individuals, aged 18-35 years, from the FERTINUTS trial. Dietary intake was assessed using 3-day dietary records, and semen quality parameters were analyzed. Multivariable linear regression analysis was employed to evaluate the associations between dietary polyphenol consumption and semen quality indicators.
Our findings revealed both positive and negative associations between polyphenol consumption and sperm morphology parameters. A higher intake of total polyphenols was associated with a lower percentage of abnormalities in sperm heads but a higher rate of abnormalities in the principal piece. Similar results were observed for lignan and flavonoid intake. Additionally, a higher intake of flavonoids was also associated with a greater percentage of normal sperm forms. In contrast, a higher dietary intake of stilbenes was associated with a higher percentage of combined abnormalities.
Higher intake of polyphenols, particularly flavonoids and lignans, was associated with improved sperm head morphology but also with increased tail abnormalities, although no associations with motility or vitality were observed. These results suggest that specific polyphenol classes may have both beneficial and adverse effects on sperm structure, warranting consideration of compound type and dosage in dietary recommendations. Further studies are needed to determine whether these morphological changes impact fertilization outcomes and reproductive potential.
背景/目的：精液质量低下和男性不育是全球关键的健康问题。新兴研究表明，营养因素在决定生殖结果方面可能发挥重要作用。了解并优化这些饮食影响因素，包括多酚的作用，对于制定改善男性生育能力的针对性策略至关重要。我们旨在探讨一组健康年轻男性中不同种类多酚的摄入量与精液质量指标之间的关系。
这是一项对FERTINUTS试验中106名年龄在18 - 35岁男性个体的二次分析。通过3天饮食记录评估饮食摄入量，并分析精液质量参数。采用多变量线性回归分析来评估饮食中多酚摄入量与精液质量指标之间的关联。
我们的研究结果揭示了多酚摄入量与精子形态参数之间存在正相关和负相关。总多酚摄入量较高与精子头部异常百分比较低相关，但主段异常率较高。木脂素和黄酮类化合物的摄入量也观察到类似结果。此外，黄酮类化合物摄入量较高还与正常精子形态的百分比更高相关。相比之下，较高的芪类饮食摄入量与联合异常的百分比更高相关。
较高的多酚摄入量，尤其是黄酮类化合物和木脂素，与改善精子头部形态相关，但也与尾部异常增加相关，尽管未观察到与活力或存活率的关联。这些结果表明，特定种类的多酚可能对精子结构既有有益影响也有不利影响，在饮食建议中需要考虑化合物类型和剂量。需要进一步研究来确定这些形态变化是否会影响受精结果和生殖潜力。
