ReproSource Comments on New Study Linking Antioxidants to Sperm Quality

PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 19, 2012

There are many factors that have the potential to affect human fertility, both among men as well as among women. According to one new study, diet is a major factor in determining the overall quality of sperm, which in turn has big implications for male fertility. In particular, the study finds that a diet rich in antioxidants can lead men to have better sperm quality--a finding that has drawn the attention of ReproSource.

According to the new U.S. study, middle-aged and older men who eat diets rich in antioxidants may have healthier sperm. Antioxidant-rich foods include vegetables such as tomatoes and broccoli. Conversely, men who do not get enough of these essential nutrients may have less healthy sperm.

The new research also indicates the importance of vitamins C and E, as well as zinc and folate. Men over 45, who get adequate quantities of these nutrients, typically have fewer DNA strand breaks in their sperm. Strand breaks are a common way of measuring the health and quality of sperm.

The new study has won the attention of ReproSource. A clinical laboratory and research facility devoted to fertility testing and education, ReproSource has long studied the different factors that affect male fertility. The company has responded to the latest research with a new statement to the press.

"The results of this study correlate well with other antioxidant and semen health studies, says Charles Jenkins, Vice President of ReproSource. "Many fertility experts seem to agree that proper nutrition including a diet rich in antioxidants is an important factor for optimizing fertility."

The researchers behind the new study, published in the journal Fertility & Sterility, note that men who consume healthy diets and abundant nutrients are typically men who place a high premium on wellness and physical fitness in general. Even so, the study finds that it is not just general nutrition, but antioxidant intake in particular, that has such an immense effect on male fertility and sperm quality.

The study suggests that it may not be necessary for men to take supplements to dramatically increase their antioxidant intake, as long as they maintain a diet that is rich with antioxidants. The men who fared the best in the study, exhibiting the healthiest sperm, were men who received just the right amount of antioxidants, not excessive amounts.

The results of the study suggest antioxidants as important fertility factors only among older men. Among younger men who participated in the study, there was no correlation detected between sperm quality and antioxidant levels.

ReproSource was founded in 2008 by a team of internationally recognized experts in the fields of diagnostic research, fertility medicine, and clinical laboratory medicine. ReproSource is committed to investigating and advancing tests, treatments, and educational models used in the field of human fertility. The company is particularly committed to educating the general public about the different factors that affect fertility.

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ReproSource is a clinical laboratory and research organization that exists to provide clinicians and patients alike with the best solutions for fertility testing and education. The organization was founded in 2008 by internationally renowned experts in the areas of diagnostic research, clinical laboratory medicine, and the practice of fertility medicine.