Men's Diet Crucial In Keeping Quality Sperm For Conception

The health of the mother is not the only factor in conception and to make sure the baby will be healthy. The quality of the father's sperms is given consideration of whether the child will be born normal with no genetic abnormalities.

It was found that males who has a  diet  rich in folate seen in green, leafy vegetables, and pulses are more likely to have good sperms with lower levels of wrong chromosomes. As this happens, abnormalities in the offspring is less likely to occur.

With high content level of folate in the sperm, birth defects among babies are prevented. This study was featured in the recent journal Human Reproduction published by the University of California in Berkeley.

In a healthy man, it is seen that he has 4 percent of sperm that may be contributory to the child's abnormality. A condition known as aneuploidy is a determining condition whether the males' wrong chromosomes are too many or too few.

Cases of failed conception, miscarriages and abnormal conditions of children being born with Down's, Turner's and Klinefelter's syndromes are linked to aneuploidy. But how this happens remains a mystery in the medical field.

Sperm samples from 89 nonsmoking and healthy males were gathered by Berkeley researchers and the participants were asked about their  diet  whether they have high intake of zinc, folate, Vitamins C and E and beta carotene.

All forms of folate intake were listed, be it a synthetic supplement or real foods rich in folate. Indeed, the researchers found a link associating the intake of folate to lower occurrence of sperm aneuploidy. But they said further studies must be conducted to strengthen their initial findings.

Professor Brenda Eskenazi said that this finding on folate intake on fathers is an indication that  diets  of parents are significant to produce healthy babies. If the sperm of the male is healthy, it can surely impregnate a woman and the offspring will not suffer from possible abnormalities.

Perhaps, reproductive centers should aware of this development so that couples can be informed how conception can be properly planned.  Diets  of soon-to-be fathers should be adjusted based on their minimum folate requirement as what Professor Eskenazi said of having 400 micrograms daily to reduce the risk of chromosomal abnormalities among children.

Aside from folate  diet , Dr. Allan Pacey of the University of Sheffield said that healthy activities like exercising, quitting smoking, moderate intake of alcohol and sensible eating must be incorporated to the daily regimen. Having fruits and vegetables on the table every meal is a healthy habit. The UK is also currently studying if it is possible to incorporate folate in bread and flour.

For those who criticize the move of folic intake, they are claiming that too much folate may be increasing the risk of certain cancers. But this has not yet been proven.

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