Fertility and the health

A diet that contains high amounts of certain vitamins and minerals is associated with improved sperm DNA quality in older men. In a study of 80 healthy men, aged 22 to 80, investigators found that those older than 44 who consumed the most vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and foliate had 20 percent less sperm DNA damage than those who consumed the lowest amounts of these so-called “micro nutrients.” It appears that consuming more micro nutrients such as vitamin C, E, foliate and zinc helps turn back the clock for older men. We found that men 44 and older who consumed at least the recommended dietary allowance of certain micro nutrients had sperm with a similar amount of DNA damage as the sperm of younger men. The findings are important because an increasing number of men over 35 years of age are having children, which raises public health concerns, the researchers pointed out in the news release.
Previous research has shown that as men age, they are more likely to have sperm DNA damage. This explains why older men are less fertile and at increased risk for having children with genetic defects. Until now, scientists haven’t known whether a diet high in antioxidants and micro nutrients might help protect against age-related damage in sperm DNA. Further research is needed to determine if higher vitamin intake and improved sperm DNA quality in older men will help improve their fertility and the health of their children.