Junk Food Diet May Lower Sperm Count- Study

Eating junk food doesn't only make you fat, but it may also lower sperm count, according to a new study.

The study was carried out by the researchers from the Harvard Medical School in Boston, US and the University of Sheffield.

Researchers found out that men who eat more junk food have lowest sperm counts and poorer quality sperms compared to their counterparts who eat healthy food that contains omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish and plant oils.

A survey was conducted on 99 men, whose average age was 36. During the survey the participants had to answer a questionnaire related to their dietary habits, lifestyle and health history.

Later the researchers analysed the group's semen samples and blood and they discovered men who have more junk food had a 43% lower sperm count.

Researchers also discovered that men who consume healthy food had 1.9 per cent more correctly-formed sperm than men with the lowest intake.

"If men make changes to their diets so as to reduce the amount of saturated fat they eat and increase their omega-3 intake, then this may not only improve general health, but could improve their reproductive health, too," said Jill Attaman, Lead scientist and Professor at the Harvard Medical School, according to a Daily Mail Report.

"Currently we have few ways of improving sperm quality for men who are sub-fertile and so men wishing to improve their chances of conception should try to be as healthy as possible," the Daily Mail has quoted Dr Allan Pacey, Leading British fertility expert from the University of Sheffield as saying.

"That includes eating sensibly, stopping smoking and, if they are overweight, trying to bring their BMI (body mass index) into the normal range," he added.