title: Maternal folic acid supplement intake and semen quality in Danish sons: a follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether maternal folic acid supplement intake during pregnancy is related to better semen quality in male offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  A follow-up study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two major Danish municipalities, Aalborg and Odense.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included 347 singleton sons of mothers enrolled into the Healthy Habits for Two cohort when pregnant in 1984-87.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information on maternal folic acid supplement intake during pregnancy was provided by self-administered questionnaire in the 36th week of gestation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen characteristics and serum concentrations of sex hormones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of semen characteristics among sons whose mothers took folic acid supplement during pregnancy (n = 88, 25%) did not differ from the distributions among those without (n = 75, 22%) or with unknown folic acid supplement intake (n = 84, 53%). On the contrary, serum levels of FSH and LH were significantly higher in the folic acid supplement group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hypothesis that folic acid supplement intake during pregnancy will improve semen quality in male offspring was not corroborated by a follow-up study in young Danish men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kristoffer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Cecilia Høst
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ramlau-Hansen
authors.forename: Ane Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Thulstrup
authors.forename: Jørn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Jens Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bonde
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003718:Denmark; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005492:Folic Acid