Eat your fish! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Kuan · #1 08-10-2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Omega-3 fish oils linked to better semen quality
By Stephen Daniells, 10-Aug-2009

Infertile men have lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their sperm than fertile men, suggests new research that opens up the possibility for supplements to boost sperm quality.

The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 was also found to be higher in infertile men, according to findings from a study with 150 men in Iran in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Nutrition.

“These results suggest that research should be performed to assess the potential benefits of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation as a therapeutic approach in infertile men,” wrote the researchers, led by Mohammad Reza Safarinejad from Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, Iran.

“To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the association of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids on semen quality, and seminal plasma anti-oxidant capacity in infertile and fertile men,” they added.

Being the first such study, the researcher noted that “there is a need for future, large, prospective studies to confirm the results of the present study”.

The study adds to a small but growing body of evidence supporting the importance of balance between omega-3 omega-6 fatty acids.

Study details

Safarinejad and his co-workers measured levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the blood plasma and spermatozoa of 82 infertile men who suffered from defective production of spermatozoa, and 78 fertile men.

Specifically, they looked at levels of the omega-3 fatty acids, including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and the levels of omega-6 fatty acids, such as linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA).

According to their results, fertile men were found to have higher blood and sperm levels of all three omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, infertile men had significantly higher blood ratios of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.

Levels of AA were higher in the infertile men, added the researchers, while the ratios of AA to DHA and EPA were also higher.

The AA to DHA or EPA ration was also linked to lower sperm counts, and decreased sperm motility.

“A high proportion of omega-6 fatty acids in the spermatozoa is a distinctive feature of infertile men. There is a growing body of evidence that the fatty acid composition of sperm membranes, determine their physiological characteristics,” wrote the researchers.

“The data tend to support a possible beneficial effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation among patients with [defective production of sperm],” said the researchers.

The findings are biologically plausible, noted the researchers, with DHA, for example, known to be present in the membranes of spermatozoa.

Caveats

The researchers note that the results of this study are limited to Iranian men and therefore cannot be generalised to other populations. They also note that no data was collected about dietary or supplemental intakes of fatty acid-containing foods.

Source: Clinical Nutrition
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2009.07.008
"Relationship of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids with semen characteristics, and anti-oxidant status of seminal plasma: A comparison between fertile and infertile men"
Authors: M.R. Safarinejad, S.Y. Hosseini, F. Dadkhah, M.A. Asgari

toomany MBZ · #2 08-10-2009, 09:52 AM

And after the oceans are over fished, take one of these a day.

Kuan · #3 08-10-2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomany MBZ

And after the oceans are over fished, take one of these a day.

You have evidence that works?

tbomachines · #4 08-10-2009, 09:59 AM

Get fish oil that doesn't make you burp!! I take fish oil routinely and I have found that if you don't look for fishy-burp-less gelcaps, you'll have a couple nasty belches that taste like dead fish.

WVOtoGO · #5 08-10-2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbomachines

Get fish oil that doesn't make you burp!! I take fish oil routinely and I have found that if you don't look for fishy-burp-less gelcaps, you'll have a couple nasty belches that taste like dead fish.

At which point, it really wont matter what your semen quality is.

cscmc1 · #6 08-10-2009, 11:06 AM

I was going to look into fish oil supplements (not for the qualities espoused in this thread, mind you -- things in that area are working just fine). I started checking into it, and the serious nutritionists are very picky about what passes as worthwhile. They warned of checking that the source of the oil isn't a variety of fish high in mercury, among other things. It got pretty confusing, so I kinda gave up. I need to look back into it.

aklim · #7 08-10-2009, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscmc1

I was going to look into fish oil supplements (not for the qualities espoused in this thread, mind you -- things in that area are working just fine). I started checking into it, and the serious nutritionists are very picky about what passes as worthwhile. They warned of checking that the source of the oil isn't a variety of fish high in mercury, among other things. It got pretty confusing, so I kinda gave up. I need to look back into it.

Those espoused qualities are only handy if you want to have kids. Or stop eating fish if you want to fool around and this is extra insurance.

cscmc1 · #8 08-10-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Those espoused qualities are only handy if you want to have kids. Or stop eating fish if you want to fool around and this is extra insurance.

Yessir, I know. There are other purported benefits to fish oil, though; that's what I was getting at. I don't need any help with increasing sperm quality (at least not yet).

MTI · #9 08-10-2009, 01:15 PM

And it's a great cure for mercury deficiency, too!

tbomachines · #10 08-10-2009, 01:23 PM

The main uses of fish oil as a supplement are to help regulate cholesterol and blood pressure. I have heard other benefits as well, like increased memory...maybe I need to take some more because I can't remember all of the other stuff I've read. The only supplements I take normally are fish oil and Glutamine, along with muscle milk (yeah yeah, don't laugh too hard

) for most of the year...9 months out of 12 permit me to have daily dedicated gym time, the other 3 just build fat and lose the strength

Jim B. · #11 08-10-2009, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

“These results suggest that research should be performed to assess the potential benefits of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation as a therapeutic approach in infertile men,” wrote the researchers, led by Mohammad Reza Safarinejad from Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, Iran.

The researchers note that the results of this study are limited to Iranian men and therefore cannot be generalised to other populations.

Authors: M.R. Safarinejad, S.Y. Hosseini, F. Dadkhah, M.A. Asgari

Allahu Akbar, beer is good, people are crazy!!

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