Omega-3s Link to Sperm Confirmed

Listen up, men:  I’ve got yet another reason why omega-6 consumption should be balanced with plenty of omega-3 consumption.

I know, I know, this advisement of mine is getting redundant, as I’ve written about this topic twice now in as many weeks.

But, as a wise man I know likes to say, “Repetition is the mother of wisdom.”

That said, here’s why men need to balance their omega intake:  It affects fertility.

Infertility is often billed as a woman’s issue, but in actuality, men suffer from infertility nearly as often as women do.  In fact, in nearly 50 percent of cases where a couple can’t seem to get pregnant, men are part of the problem.  And in 20 percent of cases, the infertility problem is solely that of the man.

Of course, there are many factors that contribute to male infertility, be them genetic (as in Klinefelter’s syndrome), behavioral (drinking or smoking in excess) or biological (some men produce antibodies that kills the sperm they produce).

A new body of evidence suggests that what men consume can also affect sperm count, or more specifically, semen quality.

Researchers from Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran discovered this after analyzing blood and semen samples from both fertile and infertile men, with a particular focus on the levels of polyunsaturated fats found in those samples.

Almost uniformly, the researchers found that the infertile men had a higher omega-6 fatty acid count than an omega-3 fatty acid count; while with the fertile men, it was just the opposite (i.e.  a higher omega-3 to omega-6 ratio).

Writing in the journal Clinical Nutrition, the researchers conclude, “There is a growing body of evidence that the fatty acid composition of sperm membranes determine their physiological characteristics.”

In other words, men with live and active sperm cells were the same ones whose omega-3 count was high.

As is always the case with these studies, more research needs to be done before doctors will make recommendations as to just how much a man should supplement with omega-3s for improved sperm count; a man’s activity level and age factors into that assessment (as discussed in a previous posting of mine that centered on balancing omega-6 consumption with omega-3 consumption).

What doesn’t need further investigation is the array of health benefits omega-3s provide.  Whether it’s protecting the heart or deflecting disease, improving brain function or boosting immune function, omega-3s know no bounds in health promotion.  Start supplementing with omega-3s today through fish oil, or even better, fish itself.  Sardines, salmon and mackerel are loaded with heart-healthy (and sperm healthy) omega-3s.

If you’ve been duped into thinking they’re nutritional nightmares, don’t let the nutrition facts fool you (truth be told, sardines, salmon and mackerel are all quite high in fat, but in the healthy, unsaturated kind.  Unlike some nutrients that are metabolized the same way no matter where they come from, fats are metabolized differently).

Sources
latimes.com
nutraingredients.com