Public release date: 27-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] <\/p>\n
Contact: Dan Krotz dakrotz@lbl.gov<\/a> 510-486-4019 DOE\/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory<\/p>\n A new study led by scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) found that a healthy intake of micronutrients is strongly associated with improved sperm DNA quality in older men. In younger men, however, a higher intake of micronutrients didn't improve their sperm DNA. <\/p>\n In an analysis of 80 healthy male volunteers between 22 and 80 years of age, the scientists found that men older than 44 who consumed the most vitamin C had 20 percent less sperm DNA damage compared to men older than 44 who consumed the least vitamin C. The same was true for vitamin E, zinc, and folate. <\/p>\n \"It appears that consuming more micronutrients such as vitamin C, E, folate and zinc helps turn back the clock for older men. We found that men 44 and older who consumed at least the recommended dietary allowance of certain micronutrients had sperm with a similar amount of DNA damage as the sperm of younger men,\" says Andy Wyrobek of Berkeley Lab's Life Sciences Division. <\/p>\n \"This means that men who are at increased risk of sperm DNA damage because of advancing age can do something about it. They can make sure they get enough vitamins and micronutrients in their diets or through supplements,\" adds Wyrobek. <\/p>\n Wyrobek conducted the research with a team of researchers that includes Brenda Eskenazi of the University of California at Berkeley's School of Public Health and scientists from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom. They report their findings in the August 27 online issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility. <\/p>\n Their research comes as more men over 35 have children, which raises public health concerns. Previous research conducted in Wyrobek's lab found that the older a man is, the more he's likely to have increased sperm DNA fragmentation, chromosomal rearrangements, and DNA strand damage. Older men are also more likely to have increased frequencies of sperm carrying certain gene mutations, such as those leading to dwarfism. These findings help explain why aging men are less fertile and are predicted to have more chromosomally defective pregnancies and a higher proportion of offspring with genetic defects. <\/p>\n But until now, researchers haven't understood whether diet can protect against the detrimental effects of aging on the sperm genome. <\/p>\n The scientists studied a group of about 80 men between 20 and 80 years old with an average age of 44. They were recruited several years ago as part of the California Age and Genetic Effects on Sperm Study when Wyrobek was at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Each man who participated in the study filled out a 100-item questionnaire that estimated their average daily vitamin intake, both from food and supplements. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n Continue reading here: Public release date: 27-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Dan Krotz dakrotz@lbl.gov<\/a> 510-486-4019 DOE\/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory A new study led by scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) found that a healthy intake of micronutrients is strongly associated with improved sperm DNA quality in older men. In younger men, however, a higher intake of micronutrients didn't improve their sperm DNA Continue reading
\nNutrition tied to improved sperm DNA quality in older men<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"