Male Infertility: Is Omega-3 the Answer?
Get the latest information about omega-3 and male infertility
Can omega-3 help with male infertility issues? It may be possible according to the latest research. With 6.1 million couples affected by infertility problems and 30% to 35% of the problems being male related, this latest study offers hope to infertile men and their partners
Male Infertility and Omega-3
It turns out; essential fatty acids act as hormone regulators and are very important in improving the odds of conceiving. In order to conceive, men must make every effort to improve the condition of their sperm. For conception to take place, a man must have a good sperm count, well-shaped sperm, and sperm able to swim fast and straight.
A recent study at the University of Illinois (1) showed just how important omega-3 is for fertility health. Manabu Nakamura, a University of Illinois associate noticed that mice deficient in DHA had extremely low sperm counts. In addition to the low sperm count, he noticed the mice had round shaped sperm instead of elongated. The sperm also did not move well or have good motility.
Professor Nakumura gave the mice omega-3. Once he supplemented the diets of the mice, with these essential fatty acids, they became fertile once again. He stated, "It was very striking. When we fed the mice DHA, these abnormalities were prevented."
Previous studies by other researchers show the relationship between low DHA levels and low sperm count. Professor Nakumura's study is the first study to directly show the benefits of including fatty acids in the diet.
While Nakamura's study is promising, he cautions there are still many things about the effect of omega-3 on male infertility they need to study further.
To improve your chances of conceiving and having healthy sperm, talk to your doctor about Nakumura's study. Your doctor may recommend adding a nutritional supplement to your diet. Eating a healthy diet, reducing stress, exercising, and watching your weight in addition to omega-3 may improve your chances of conceiving.
(1)Journal of Lipid Research, February 2010 Issue.
