Is Western Diet Harmful for Male Fertility? A Review of Fact or Fiction

Articles in Press

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Clinical Research Development Unit, Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Hospital, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

2 2- Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

10.30476/ijns.2025.104492.1359

Abstract

Diet plays a crucial role in male reproductive potential. The global fertility rate has been declining, and this may be partly attributed to the changes in diet worldwide. This article aims to provide a summary of the existing knowledge on the molecular mechanisms that contribute to male infertility and reproductive issues in men who follow a western diet. It also discusses the key effects of the western diet on fertility. In the western diet, there is an excessive intake of lipids that can lead to elevated levels of cholesterol
and fatty acids. This lipid overload contributes to obesity, which in turn disrupts male fertility through mechanisms such as androgenesis disruption, inflammation, and increased temperature. Additionally, carbohydrates in the western diet, particularly those with high glycemic index, are primarily responsible for insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Insulin resistance reduces the ability of sperm to absorb glucose, thereby impairing their motility and metabolism. In conclusion, the western diet is not an optimal nutritional pattern for male fertility potential; while a significant factor driving the increased adoption of the western diet can be the profitdriven practices of large food processing companies that heavily promote processed foods and sugary beverages. However, it is the responsibility of health authorities in developed and developing countries to educate society about the detrimental effect of an unhealthy diet on fertility in order to prevent a decline in the fertility among younger population.

Highlights

Soheila Pourmasumi (Google Scholar)

Mehrnoosh Mehrabian (Google Scholar)

Keywords

International Journal of Nutrition Sciences

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 07 May 2025

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