Eating two handfuls of nuts per day improves sperm parameters

A recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in Advances in Nutrition set out to present up-to-date evidence regarding the association between nut intake and fertility outcomes.

The researchers searched the Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and Scopus databases from inception to June 2023. Eligible articles were interventional or observational studies in human subjects of reproductive age (18-49 years) that assessed the effects of nut consumption on fertility-related outcomes for a minimum of three months. Four studies involving 875 participants were included in the review.

Meta-analysis of two randomized controlled trials involving 223 healthy men indicated that consumption of at least 60 grams/day of nuts increased sperm motility, vitality and morphology in comparison to controls. The findings show that including at least two servings of nuts daily as part of a Western-style diet improves sperm parameters, which are predictors of male fertility.

Cardoso, B. R., Fratezzi, I., & Kellow, N. J. (2023). Nut consumption and fertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.), 100153. Advance online publication.

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