Tomatoes Help Improve Male Fertility

Infertility affects 1 out of 6 couples, of which half the cases are due to poor sperm count or quality
Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant which may boost male fertility by combating oxidative stress that causes poor sperm count.
A study is presently underway to determine the effect of increased blood lycopene levels on sperm production.

While infertility affects about 15% of couples all over the world, the cause in around 50% of them is poor sperm quality or low sperm count. Various studies conducted in the past have shown a correlation of oxidative stress due to free radicals and poor quality of sperms.

Tomatoes may be the new answer to male infertility as they are known to contain lycopene, a nutrient that gives the tomato its color and is an antioxidant in its nature. A study is being conducted at the University of Sheffield to observe the effect of increased levels of lycopene on sperm count.

Health Benefits of Tomato
Tomatoes are a rich source of potassium and vitamins. Tomatoes are used in the manufacture of skin care products. They have a whole lot of health benefits and one prominent benefit is its role in reducing prostate cancer risk.

‘Lycopene, an antioxidant present in tomatoes, may improve sperm quality by combating free radical damage to the sperm DNA in the stages of development and boost male fertility.’

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A study conducted at the Cleveland Clinic in 2014 revealed an increase of 70% in sperm count on the administration of lycopene. To investigate this further and gather more evidence on this theory, a study is being conducted by researchers at the University of Sheffield.

In this study, researchers plan to take up a sample of 60 subjects between the age of 18 years to 30 years. Half of these participants shall be randomly selected and administered XY Pro, over-the-counter lycopene capsules. The other half shall receive placebo (dummy capsules).

XY Pro has been deliberately selected as it is proven to have a better absorption than other lycopene supplements. This study shall be conducted as a double-blind study (neither the participants nor the researchers shall know who gets lycopene and who gets the placebo) to avoid bias. The blood lycopene levels and sperm count shall be measured at the beginning of the 12- week study, once mid-way and then at the end of it.

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“Production of sperms takes 3 months. The study will tell us if lycopene improves the quality of sperm already in development by reducing DNA damage and whether it produces an overall increase in the number of mature sperm overall,” said Allan Pacy, a professor of andrology at the University of Sheffield.

Oxidative Stress Causes Male Infertility

Quiz on Male Infertility
Infertility affects 1 in 6 couples who are trying to conceive. In about 50% of these cases, male infertility is a major contributing factor.

Many disorders and factors could contribute towards male infertility and treatment pattern may vary in several cases. However, in many instances treatment may also not work at all. Infertility may be attributed to testicular damage and thereby affecting its ability to produce sperm. In such cases, testicles may not gain its usual sperm-making ability back and thus can't be treated. Other than testicular damage, prime causes of male infertility are less sperm production and poor sperm quality.

Male infertility is mainly due to a low sperm count, low sperm motility or poor quality of sperms. In a healthy man, there exists a balance between the free radicals produced in the reproductive system and the antioxidants that are present in the seminal fluid. An excess of these free radicals due to smoking, drugs, pollution and diabetes among others, cause oxidative stress. The cell membrane of the sperms is very sensitive to oxidative stress and gets damaged. This results in reduced motility of sperms. Free radicals also damage DNA molecules which result in a reduction in the number of sperms or production of poor quality of sperms which cause no/faulty fertilization and implantation, causing infertility. Damage to sperms leads to a further increase in the number of free radicals and this becomes a vicious cycle.

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Fertility-Boosting Effect of Lycopene

Lycopene is a carotenoid which imparts the tomato its red color. Carotenoids are only found in fruits and vegetables and are not synthesized in the human body. Lycopene is however found in the seminal fluid and dietary supplementation increases its levels quite significantly.

Lycopene acts as an antioxidant in the body by two mechanisms:

It scavenges the free radicals - Neutralizing the free radicals results in reduced oxidative stress. This reduces the damage to the cell membrane and DNA molecules and improves sperm motility as well as quality.

It enhances antioxidant agents - Lycopene also acts indirectly and enhances the level of antioxidant enzymes which reduce oxidative stress. It also decreases the transcription (replication) of pro-inflammatory factors.

The reduction of damage by oxidative stress and the improvement in general immunity with lycopene supplementation results in higher chances of a normal sperm fertilizing the egg. Certain studies have revealed the beneficial effects of lycopene on reducing the growth of prostate cancer and the growth of prostate (benign hypertrophy of prostate). It seems only rational that the nutrient has beneficial effects on sperms as well.

Dr. Elizabeth Williams, a professor at the University of Sheffield said in a press release, “If lycopene has a beneficial effect on the prostate, it is reasonable to think that it might also improve sperm function.”

A lot many medical practitioners already prescribe lycopene supplements due its antioxidant properties. The results of this ongoing study might reveal a new solution to the problem of male infertility.

Source-Medindia