If you’re struggling to conceive, the cause could be the role that anti-oxidants are playing on your partner’s sperm. There is lots of research to suggest that, where quality of sperm is an issue, supplements could help.
Oxidants are molecules containing single, unpaired electrons; they roam our bodies on the lookout for electrons to pair up with. They are prevalent in many popular foods, such as chips, bagels, burgers, pizzas, pastries, ice-creams and chocolate bars, all of which are also lacking in the balancing anti oxidants, which work to keep the number of oxidants at the optimum level.
If your partner likes his convenience foods, the bad news is that anti oxidants can cause serious stress to sperm, resulting in poor quality. A study of men attending fertility clinics in Spain found that those whose diets were low in anti-oxidants had lower quality semen; reducing the intake of both proteins and fats improved sperm quality. A trial in Saudi Arabia of couples receiving fertility treatment found that the men who were given Vitamin E showed improved sperm motility, with 21% of the couples achieving conception over a two and a half year period, while none of the couples in the placebo trial conceived. In fact a review of 34 trials in which men took antioxidant supplements found that they enjoyed significantly higher live birth rates than the control groups.
Before starting supplements, you should seek expert advice. While they may have a valuable role to play, switching to a healthier diet should ideally be your starting point for reducing those pesky oxidants and boosting the number of beneficial anti oxidants.
