The Influence of Lifestyle on Male Fertility in the Context of Insulin Resistance-Identification of Factors That Influence Semen Quality.
Plain-language summary
This study set out to see how lifestyle and insulin resistance relate to male fertility. Insulin resistance means the body has stopped responding properly to insulin, so it takes more of it to keep blood sugar in range. It assessed 73 men, split by whether they had it, and measured physical activity, diet, perceived stress, sleep quality, libido, how long since they last ejaculated, body composition and glucose handling, against sperm movement. What tracked with sperm movement was vitamin and mineral intake, overall diet quality, body composition, insulin resistance, and time since last ejaculation. Physical activity, perceived stress, sleep quality and libido were all measured and showed no link. Having insulin resistance was itself tied to lower fertility.
Key findings
- Diet quality and vitamin intake were linked to sperm motility.
- Insulin resistance was associated with lower male fertility.
- Antioxidant-rich diets, like the Mediterranean diet, emerged as key modifiable factors.
- Sexual abstinence duration affected semen quality results.
How to analyze the study yourself
- Study type
- Cross-sectional studies are good for spotting associations at one point in time but cannot prove cause and effect.
- Population
- The study included 73 men, grouped by insulin resistance status.
- Funding
- Not reported
- Watch for
- This study found that diet quality, vitamin and mineral intake, body composition and insulin resistance tracked with sperm movement, while exercise, stress, sleep and libido did not. If you are working on fertility, it may be worth putting the effort into an antioxidant-rich diet and getting insulin resistance checked, rather than assuming more exercise or better sleep will move your semen numbers.