Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Nutrition, Genetic Variation And Male Fertility, Shelley M. Vanderhout, Matineh Rastegar Panah, Bibiana Garcia-Bailo, Patricia Grace-Farfaglia, Konrad Samsel, Judith Dockray, Keith Jarvi, Ahmed El-Sohemy

Health Science Faculty Publications

Infertility affects nearly 50 million couples worldwide, with 40−50% of cases having a male factor component. It is well established that nutritional status impacts reproductive development, health and function, although the exact mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Genetic variation that affects nutrient metabolism may impact fertility through nutrigenetic mechanisms. This review summarizes current knowledge on the role of several dietary components (vitamins A, B₁₂, C, D, E, folate, betaine, choline, calcium, iron, caffeine, fiber, sugar, dietary fat, and gluten) in male reproductive health. Evidence of gene-nutrient interactions and their potential effect on fertility is also examined. Understanding …