Infertility is defined clinically in women and men who cannot achieve pregnancy after 1 year of having intercourse without using birth control, and in women who have two or more failed pregnancies. Studies suggest that after 1 year of having unprotected sex, 15% of couples are unable to conceive, and after 2 years, 10% of couples still have not had a successful pregnancy.1,2 In couples younger than age 30 who are generally healthy, 20% to 37% are able to conceive in the first 3 months.3
Many different medical conditions and other factors can contribute to fertility problems, and an individual case may have a single cause, several causes, or—in some cases—no identifiable cause. Overall, one-third of infertility cases are caused by male reproductive issues, one-third by female reproductive issues, and one-third by both male and female reproductive issues or by unknown factors.4
Male infertility (Male infertility) is often associated with poor health. In the case, it was found that compared with fertile men, infertile men showed more health problems, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, and testicles. cancer
Therefore, it is necessary to assess the awareness of factors related to the reduction of fertility in order to promote men’s general and reproductive health.
In empirical medicine, which health ingredients are considered to promote male fertility, please see the following analysis
What is male infertility? What caused it?
Infertility refers to the absence of pregnancy after 1 year of intercourse without contraceptive measures. One out of every six couples will experience infertility in their lifetime (approximately 10% to 15%), that is, approximately 49 to 72 million people worldwide. In 40% to 60% of cases, male factors are the main cause
There are many reasons for male infertility, such as congenital diseases (testicular dysplasia, cryptorchidism, etc.), acquired diseases, genitourinary diseases (spermic vein flexion, tumors, testicular torsion, urogenital infections, scrotal temperature Elevated), endocrine diseases, genetic diseases, immune factors, systemic diseases, external factors (drugs, toxins, radiation, etc.)
However, in more than 30% of cases, the cause of male infertility is unrecognizable. One of the main reasons is the decline in sperm quality, or idiopathic infertility, which is caused by non-specific causes A condition in which semen parameters are abnormal.
What are the health foods that are beneficial to male fertility?
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Zinc
Zinc is the second largest trace element necessary for human metabolism after iron in the human body. It can catalyze more than 100 enzymes, promote protein folding, and help regulate gene expression. It exists in various foods, such as beef, poultry, and seafood. And grains.
The symptoms of zinc deficiency are non-specific and affect many organ systems, including the skin, gastrointestinal, central nervous system, immune system, bones and reproductive system. Growth retardation, diarrhea, hair loss, glossitis, decreased immunity and gonads may occur Hypofunction, commonly seen in patients with malnutrition, alcohol abuse, inflammatory bowel disease and malabsorption syndrome
＊Conclusion: Zinc supplementation may have a positive effect on male fertility, but limited by the small sample size, more studies are needed to support it
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Coenzyme Q10 (Coenzyme Q10)
Coenzyme Q10, also known as ubiquinone, is a small lipophilic structure consisting of a benzoquinone ring and isoprene side chains. It is ubiquitous in the cell membrane and may be reduced (ubiquinol) or oxidized (ubiquinone) The form exists.
First, Coenzyme Q10 is a cofactor of the mitochondrial enzyme complex involved in the oxidative phosphorylation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
Second, in addition to its role in ATP production, Coenzyme Q10 is also an antioxidant or free radical scavenger.
Coenzyme Q10 has different levels in all tissues, and the highest concentration is in tissues with high energy demand or metabolic activity (such as heart, kidney, liver, and muscle).
＊Conclusion: Coenzyme Q10 (Coenzyme Q10) can improve related conventional semen parameters, which may be helpful for improving fertility, but there is no evidence to prove that it can increase the chance of pregnancy, and more large-scale studies are needed for further verification
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Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids with multiple double bonds. Polyunsaturation means that their carbon chain contains two or more double bonds. The main types include eicosapentaene. Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) contain 20 and 22 carbons, respectively.
Since the human body cannot synthesize Omega-3 fatty acids, the source is mainly from marine animals. A small amount of EPA and DHA can also be synthesized in the body through alpha linolenic acid. Alpha-linolenic acid is also an Omega-3 fatty acid, commonly found in plants such as flaxseed, rapeseed oil and walnuts
In medical literature, the most famous properties of Omega-3 fatty acids include: protection of the brain and heart, anti-inflammatory, immune regulation, anti-oxidation, and anti-tumor effects.
＊Conclusion: For male infertility patients, omega-3 (fish oil) can help improve sperm motility and may be positively helpful for male infertility. However, due to the small number of samples and heterogeneity of the included studies, it still needs More research to support