Cause of male infertility
A low sperm count is the major cause of male infertility, and for unknown reasons, men worldwide are producing fewer sperm than few decades ago. Some scientist believe certain pesticides, which have estrogenlike effects, may be linked to the declining count. Alcohol and tobacco use lower sperm production and should be avoided if there is difficulty conceiving.
Zinc. Inadequate zinc may lower male fertility; a recent study found that men who consumed 1.4 mg daily produced fewer sperm and had lower levels of the male hormone testosterone than men whose daily zinc intake was 10.4 mg—the zinc Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adult men is 11 mg.
Vitamin C. Inadequate intake of vitamin C may impair male fertility. One study correlated low levels of vitamin C with an increased tendency of sperm to clump together, a problem that all but disappeared after 3 weeks of taking vitamin C supplements. Researchers studied a group of healthy men who had low intakes of fruits and vegetables and did not take supplements. Their study suggests that low levels of folic acid in these men were associated with decreased sperm count and decreased sperm density. The vitamin’s role is unclear, but researchers believe normalizing folate levels through diet may offset diminished sperm levels. The best food sources of folic acid are dark green vegetables (such as broccoli, spinach, romaine lettuce, peas, and brussels sprouts), orange juice, liver, dry peas, and beans, Other evidence suggests that vitamin B12 (found in all animal products) may improve sperm count and motility, eyen in men who are not B12 deficient.
