A new study suggests that men who take fish oil supplements might get a boost in fertility. Fish oil supplements are known to be high in omega-3 fatty acids and are said to help increase sperm count.
After reviewing the data from almost 1,700 young men, the researchers concluded that fish oil supplement consumption was linked to a higher sperm count, larger tests and improved levels of hormones that can help in male fertility. This is all according to the report that was published in JAMA Network Open.
While men could benefit from adding omega-3 fatty acids to their diets, the massive impact would be in those with poor sperm quality, according to the co-author of the study and professor at Rigshospitalet and the University of Southern Denmark, Tina Kold Jensen.
That is because these types of fatty acids are needed for fertility, Jensen stated. The composition of the sperm cell membrane with rich fatty acid content is important for proper sperm function. The sperm cell membrane plays an important role in the key fertilization events. Omega-3 in the sperm membrane increases as the sperm matures and it can't be synthesized in humans and it needs to come from the diet.
Benefits of fish oil
In order to explore the possibility that fish oil and other types of nutrients might help with male fertility, Jensen and other researchers approached male participants between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2017. They were undergoing physical exams as part of the military conscription procedures in Denmark.
The male participants were invited to a study of testicular function and those who signed on were given an appointment for an examination and were compensated with 500 Danish kroner or $74.23.
During their appointments, the participants filled out a questionnaire, they underwent a physical exam, they delivered a semen sample and they had their blood drawn. They were asked about their diet, the vitamins or the dietary supplements that they take, their overall lifestyle and if they have any health issues and they were asked about testicular health issues like inguinal hernias and about STDs. They were also asked about alcohol consumption, marijuana and tobacco use and whether their mothers had smoked during pregnancy.
Improvement in semen volume
When Jensen and her fellow researchers analyzed their data, they found that men who had taken fish oil supplements on fewer than 60 days in the past three months had semen volume that was around 0.38 mL higher than those who did not take supplements. Men who took fish oil for 60 or more days during that period had semen volume that was 0.64 mL higher than those who did not use the supplements.
Also, compared to men who did not take fish oil supplements, the testicular size in those who took fish oil supplements on less than 60 days was 0.8 mL larger and among those who took it for 60 days or more. It was 1.5 mL larger. Men who took fish oil also had a higher number of sperm than those who did not take the supplements. Additionally, they had higher percentages of sperm that swam straight ahead, as opposed to in circles.
The new study looked at men from the general population who were healthy and young, stated Albert Salas-Huetos, a researcher in the urology, andrology and IVF unit at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, who wrote an editorial accompanying the new research.
Salas-Huetos said that because it is an observational study, you can't say that there is a causal relationship between fish oil supplements and testicular function. But it is a good starting point that might spur others to do a well-designed randomized and controlled trial. Until such research is done, no exact recommendations can be made about the connection between fish oil and fertility.
