The effect of healthy dietary patterns on male semen quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

The incidence of infertility has recently risen. Semen quality is an important male fertility indicator, and dietary factors can affect semen quality. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effects of healthy dietary patterns on semen quality. A literature search was conducted in 3 databases (Embase, Web of Science and PubMed) on August 21, 2021. The included cross-sectional studies examined the influence of the Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and prudent diet patterns on semen quality parameters; six studies (1244 subjects) were included. By comparing high consumption with low consumption of healthy dietary patterns, the results of the meta-analysis showed significantly higher sperm concentrations (mean difference [MD] = 6.88 × 10⁶ ml^-1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26 × 10⁶ ml^-1-12.49 × 10⁶ ml^-1; P < 0.05), a significant increase in total sperm count (MD = 16.70 × 10⁶, 95% CI: 2.37 × 10⁶-31.03 × 10⁶; P < 0.05), and a significant increase in progressive sperm motility (MD = 5.85%, 95% CI: 2.59%-9.12%; P < 0.01). The sperm concentration, progressive sperm motility, and total sperm count were significantly higher in men with higher versus lower consumption of healthy dietary patterns. However, the results must be interpreted with caution.

Keywords: cross-sectional study; healthy dietary pattern; meta-analysis; semen quality; systematic review.

Figure 1

Flowchart of the progress of acquiring the qualified literature and studies included in the systematic review and meta-analysis.

Figure 2

The effects of healthy dietary pattern on semen quality. The forest plots of (a) sperm concentration, (b) total sperm count, and (c) normal sperm morphology use a fixed-effects estimate method. MD: mean difference; CI: confidence interval; IV: Inverse-variance.

Figure 3

The effects of healthy dietary pattern on semen quality. (a) The forest plots of total sperm motility use a random-effects estimate method. The forest plots of (b) progressive sperm motility and (c) semen volume use a fixed-effects estimate method. MD: mean difference; CI: confidence interval; IV: Inverse-variance; DL: DerSimonian-Laird.