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

doi:10.21037/tau-20-592

Nutrition, genetic variation and male fertility

Transl Androl Urol. 2021 Mar;10(3):1410-1431. doi: 10.21037/tau-20-592.

Authors

Shelley M Vanderhout¹, Matineh Rastegar Panah¹, Bibiana Garcia-Bailo¹, Patricia Grace-Farfaglia², Konrad Samsel¹, Judith Dockray³, Keith Jarvi³, Ahmed El-Sohemy¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
² Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Waterbury, CT, USA.
³ Murray Koffler Urologic Wellness Centre, Department of Urology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Abstract

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 the relationship between genetic variation, nutrition and male fertility is key to developing personalized, DNA-based dietary recommendations to enhance the fertility of men who have difficulty conceiving.

Keywords: Micronutrients; fertility; genetics; nutrigenetics; nutrigenomics; nutrition; reproduction.

Publication types

Review