title: The Association between Dietary Patterns and Semen Quality in a General Asian Population of 7282 Males.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the associations between different dietary patterns and semen quality in a general Asian male population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study. Healthy Taiwanese men aged 18 years or older who participated in a standard medical screening program from 2008-2013 run by a private firm were included in this study. Semen parameters including sperm concentration (SC), total sperm motility (TSM), progressive motility (PRM) and normal sperm morphology (NSM) were recorded. A dietary questionnaire was used to categorize the participants into 5 groups: "Healthy diet", "Western diet", "High-carbohydrate diet", "High sweet snacks & sugar-sweetened drinks" and "High-sodium diet".
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 7282 men completed the questionnaire regarding dietary pattern, and examination of anthropometric indexes was performed and laboratory data were obtained. A high intake of a "Western diet" resulted in statistically linear declines of SC and NSM (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). Similarly, a greater intake of "High sweet snacks & sugar-sweetened drinks" was associated with a lower SC (P = 0.001). Increased intake of a "High-carbohydrate diet" was related to higher prevalences of abnormal TSM and PRM (P = 0.012 and P = 0.025). Similarly, a greater intake of a "High-sodium diet" was correlated with an elevated prevalence of abnormal NSM (P = 0.035).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that a greater intake of a "Western diet" is associated with poorer SC and NSM, a "High sweet snacks and sugar-sweetened drinks" intake is correlated with a lower SC, and high-carbohydrate food is related to elevated prevalences of abnormal TSM and PRM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Science, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chin-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Master Program in Global Health and Development, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Nutrition Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jane C-J
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.affiliation: Master Program in Global Health and Development, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Information Management, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Yeh
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tai-Lung
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Tsao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D055101:Semen Analysis; D062410:Snacks; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013549:Sweetening Agents
chemical_list: D013549:Sweetening Agents