Does meat harm or benefit fertility? The correct answer would be: it depends on the meat . New research concludes that the higher the consumption of processed meat (sausages, sausages, bacon …), the worse the results in couples undergoing IVF treatments. In contrast, men who consumed chicken and other birds were more successful in their fertilization treatments.
” Many studies have shown that diet can affect human fertility, but our diets are so complex that it is difficult to unravel how certain types of foods can affect reproductive outcomes ,” explains Rebecca Sokol, president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
The research, led by scientist Wei Xia from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston (USA), examined the results of 141 men whose partners had undergone IVF . All of them provided information about their diet, including the amount and type of meat they usually consumed.
The review of the results revealed an association between total meat consumption and the success rate in the IVF process, such that men whose diet was generally based on poultry obtained 13% more success than men. who ate more processed meats compared to ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) assisted reproductive technique and 28% more successful for those who did not use ICSI .
Should men change their diet and avoid processed meats when looking for a child? The authors believe that this change in attitude would be most reasonable.
“ The intake of red meat has already been associated with an increased risk of cancer, and now, with a decrease in fertility in men. From now on, research needs to focus on the biological mechanisms that reduce male fertility due to a high level of meat consumption ”, says Natan Bar-Chama, director of male reproductive medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York (EE. .UU.) And did not participate in the work.
The study has been published in the journal Fertility and Sterility .
