Systematic ReviewHumann = 37 total studies2024Australia
Assessing the influence of preconception diet on male fertility: a systematic scoping review.
Plain-language summary
This scoping review aimed to assess how diet before conception affects male fertility and reproductive outcomes. It analyzed 37 studies, including one randomized controlled trial and 36 observational studies, published between 2008 and 2023, focusing on dietary patterns, food groups, or individual foods. The review found limited evidence linking specific dietary changes, like increasing fish or reducing sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meat, to improved fertility outcomes. However, the evidence was inconsistent for many foods and dietary patterns, and clinical outcomes like pregnancy rates and live birth rates were rarely reported.
Key findings
- Increasing fish intake may improve sperm motility and fecundability.
- Reducing sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats might benefit male fertility.
- Healthy diet patterns generally correlated with better sperm health.
- No clear link found between cereals, soy, dairy, or red meat and clinical fertility outcomes like pregnancy or live birth rates.
How to analyze the study yourself
- Study type
- Scoping reviews are good for mapping the breadth of research on a topic but cannot weigh the strength of evidence or establish causation like a meta-analysis of high-quality trials could.
- Population
- Studies included men or couples trying to conceive, with most focused on sperm health rather than direct fertility outcomes.
- Funding
- Not reported
- Watch for
- This review suggests that eating more fish and cutting back on sugary drinks and processed meat may improve male fertility. It may be worth focusing on a healthy diet pattern while trying to conceive.