title: Food intake and its relationship with semen quality: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare dietary habits in normospermic and oligoasthenoteratospermic patients attending a reproductive assisted clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational, analytical case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private fertility clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty men with poor semen quality (cases) and 31 normospermic control couples attending our fertility clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recorded dietary habits and food consumption using a food frequency questionnaire adapted to meet specific study objectives. Analysis of semen parameters, hormone levels, Y microdeletions, and karyotypes were also carried out.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frequency of intake food items were registered in a scale with nine categories ranging from no consumption to repeated daily consumption.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Controls had a higher intake of skimmed milk, shellfish, tomatoes, and lettuce, and cases consumed more yogurt, meat products, and potatoes. In the logistic regression model cases had lower intake of lettuce and tomatoes, fruits (apricots and peaches), and significantly higher intake of dairy and meat processed products.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Frequent intake of lipophilic foods like meat products or milk may negatively affect semen quality in humans, whereas some fruits or vegetables may maintain or improve semen quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Biology and Medicine, Instituto Bernabeu, Alicante, Spain. mendiola.j@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mendiola
authors.forename: Alberto M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Torres-Cantero
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moreno-Grau
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ten
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roca
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moreno-Grau
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bernabeu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015930:Diet Records; D004435:Eating; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013030:Spain; D013091:Spermatogenesis