Scientist Reveals Which Foods May Help Boost Male Fertility and Why

We are often told that our lifestyle, including our diet, can negatively affect our fertility. But scientists have shown that what we eat can also have a positive impact on fertility.

In a recent meta-analysis, published in the journal Advances in Nutrition, researchers from Monash University have revealed that eating two handfuls of a certain food group every day can significantly improve sperm quality. But what is it about this sperm-boosting superfood that gives it these powerful properties?

"It is estimated that, globally, 1 in 6 people of reproductive age is affected by infertility," Barbara Cardoso," Barbara Cardoso, a researcher at Monash University's Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food and first author on the study, told Newsweek. "Although assisted reproductive technologies are a common alternative for these couples to conceive, these treatments are very costly and not available to everyone."

Previous studies have already linked diets rich in fruit and veg with higher sperm concentrations and motility, but other foods may also help support the production of healthy sperm—specifically, nuts.

"The different types of nuts provide a wide range of nutrients, such as healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, fibers and polyphenols," Cardoso said. "We believe that all these nutrients can contribute to male fertility through different roles.

Walnuts in particular are associated with improved sperm quality, which the researchers believe is down to their rich supply of omega-3 fatty acids. Numerous studies have linked omega-3s with improved sperm quality and motility, although the exact role of the nutrients is still unclear. One explanation put forward by scientists is that these fatty acids may help support the fluidity of the sperm cell membrane and promote fusion with the egg cell.

Omega-3s are also highly concentrated in fish, and provide an excellent alternative source of this nutrient for anyone with a nut allergy.

In their meta-analysis, the team analyzed four studies, including two randomized clinical trials that gave healthy men on a western-style diet at least two handfuls of nuts per day. By combining data from these four trials, which involved 223 healthy men between the ages of 18 and 35, the team found that eating nuts was associated with improved sperm quality."

"The statistical analysis in both studies was adjusted for other factors such as physical activity," Cardoso said. "The findings show that this simple strategy has positive effects regardless of other lifestyles.

"The trial participants ate a Western-style diet, which was not necessarily healthy. This means that adding nuts to their regular diet had a positive effect without the need for further dietary changes."

It is unclear whether similar results would be seen in women. "No studies have assessed the effects of nuts in female fertility, which we believe is an important gap in the literature," Cardoso said. "Further, given that the different types of nuts present with different nutritional profile, future studies should also focus on the combination of different types of nuts."