title: Strong adherence to a healthy dietary pattern is associated with better semen quality, especially in men with poor semen quality.
abstract: To study associations between periconceptional dietary patterns and semen quality parameters.
  
  
  
  Prospective periconception cohort study.
  
  
  
  Tertiary hospital.
  
  
  
  One hundred and twenty-nine male partners of pregnant women who participated in the Rotterdam Periconception Cohort (Predict study).
  
  
  
  None.
  
  
  
  Semen quality parameters-ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, progressive motility, immotile sperm, and total motile sperm count (TMSC).
  
  
  
  Men included in our study were on average 35 (±6 standard deviation) years old and had a body mass index of 26.4 ± 4 kg/m2. Two dietary patterns were identified using principle component analysis, which were labeled as "healthy" and "unhealthy." An increase of one factor score (stated as β) represented an increase of 1 standard deviation. Sperm concentration (β = 0.278; 95% CI, 0.112-0.444), total sperm count (β = 1.369; 95% CI, 0.244-2.495), progressive motility (β = 4.305; 95% CI, 0.675-7.936), and TMSC (β = 0.319; 95% CI, 0.113-0.526) were all positively associated with a strong adherence to the healthy dietary pattern. Subgroup analysis showed that these associations were mainly present in men with a TMSC <10 million spermatozoa. Although there was a trend toward a diminution in semen quality, we found no statistically significant associations with strong adherence to the unhealthy dietary pattern.
  
  
  
  The positive associations between strong adherence to a healthy dietary pattern and semen parameters in men with poor semen quality support the importance of preconceptional tailored nutritional counseling and coaching of couples who are trying to conceive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elsje C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Oostingh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Régine P M
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Steegers-Theunissen
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jeanne H M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joop S E
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Laven
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: m.p.h.koster@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Maria P H
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Koster
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000072001:Diet, Healthy; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
keywords: Dietary pattern; male subfertility; semen analysis