Moderate alcohol consumption may boost semen quality-Andrology study

Moderate intake of alcohol may be associated with higher semen volume, sperm concentration, and total sperm count, according to a study published in the journal Andrology.

Ricci and his associates did a cross‐sectional analysis of semen quality to investigate the relationship between lifestyle and fertility.

The subject of the analysis were the men of subfertile couples eligible for assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs). The participants were interviewed about their lifestyle which included questions regarding BMI, smoking, caffeine intake, occupational and leisure physical activity (PA) and alcohol intake in the last year before the ART procedure. Semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count and sperm motility were determined. Age, risk factors for impaired male fertility, caffeine, smoking, leisure PA, days of abstinence and daily calories intake were accounted for in the analyses.

The study included 323 men patients out of which 9.6% were abstainers, 30.0% drank <1-3, 30.3% drank 4-7, and 30.0% drank greater than 8 alcohol units per week. (1 unit = 125 mL wine or 330 mL beer or 30 mL spirits, all containing approximately 12.5 g of ethanol).

Read Also: Regular consumption of nuts improves sperm Quality-Study

The study found that median semen volume and total sperm count was higher in the men drinking 4-7 units/week group compared with men drinking less than 1-3 units per week. The study also found a significant association between alcohol consumption and sperm concentration with a U-shaped trend.

"As regards low intake, our findings are consistent with other research. In Italy, alcohol consumption is common but usually limited to small quantities, and this applies in particular to men referring to our Infertility Clinic," said lead author Dr. Elena Ricci. He added, "Since the dose makes the poison, they are counseled to limit but not avoid alcohol.

The study concluded that taking moderate alcohol is positively linked to semen quality in male partners of infertile couples undergoing ARTs.

For more reference log on to https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.12521