Onm-17: Quality of Semen; Roles of DietaryFactors: A Review of Literature

Background: Infertility is an unfavorable issue in reproductive health worldwide. At least one in six couples refers to infertility clinic. Varity factors including weight, diet, genetic factors, smoking and exposure to extreme heat, environmental pollutant, infections and medical disorders are suggested to be involved with infertility disorder. Materials and Methods: Through a systematic review of literature using Medline and Pubmed from May 2009 onward, overall 6 case-control articles had inclusion criteria and were reviewed accordingly. Results: There are several lifestyle elements including dietary factors are reported to be involved with infertility problem. Antioxidants decrease sperm damage especially in men with DNA fragment and lipid peroxides. Oxidative stress can be resulted in poor semen quality by selenium and decreasing expression of HSP70 protein which is play a role in germ cell differentiation and spermatogenesis and 39% of men with abnormal semen have had low levels of Cobalamin. Also 62% of men with more than 24% DNA fragment index (DFI) who had received antioxidant for 3 month were successful in having baby, whereas the corresponding rate was 37% in the control group. Decreased alcohol and coffee consumption as well as smoking cession programs in couples with normal sexual activity have improved semen quality up to 76%. Men with sperm count more than 20 million have had more carbohydrate, fibers, foliate, Vit C, licopen intakes and less protein and fat in their regimen. More than one-third (35.0%) of infertile men who routinely used sea foods, had an elevated mercuryblood level. Low fruits and vegetables intake were the significant risk factors associated with oligospermia. Conclusion: Quality of semen decreases with diet full of diary and meat which could be in part due to existence of lipophilic materials like Xenoesterogens and anabolicsteroids.