'Cut fat' if you want babies

08 January 2013 - 02:00 By MHLABUNZIMA MEMELA
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Hamburgers. File photo
Hamburgers. File photo
Image: Times Media

A new Danish study linking saturated fats to lower sperm counts could force many South African men to think twice about their high intake of hot dogs, cheeseburgers, coffee and sweetened cold drinks.

The study by a team of researchers from Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen found that young men who ate more saturated fats had a 38% lower concentration of sperm.

The study also discovered that these men had 41% lower sperm counts in their semen than those who ate the least amount of fat.

Researcher Tina Jensen said the team surveyed and examined 701 young Danish men aged around 20 who were getting check-ups for the military service between 2008 and 2010.

Professor Salome Kruger of the North West University's nutrition department said yesterday that South African men faced a similar risk.

"The study was done on healthy young men in Denmark from the general population. The quality of the study was good, with standard international methods," she said.

"We can thus conclude that the results are reliable and may well be applicable to healthy young men of any country following a Western-type diet - meat, grains, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, fats and sugars - like most South Africans."

Saturated fats are found in foods such as fat on meat, chicken skin, full fat dairy products, butter and fast foods.

Kruger said earlier studies found that smoking cigarettes and excessive alcohol and caffeine intakes were associated with low sperm counts.

She said the results from the new study should be added as a marker for male infertility.

"Couples who have problems with fertility should always seek medical assistance.

"Men in relationships where women fail to fall pregnant could start by quitting smoking, decreasing alcohol intake and the intake of caffeine-containing drinks, decreasing saturated fat intake and trying to get to normal body weight if obese.

"The chances to increase sperm counts in men experiencing infertility problems will improve. More important, their general health will improve."

She said high intake of saturated fats and sweetened cold drinks were associated with obesity in men and women.

"The intake of saturated fats can be decreased by cutting visible fat from meat, not eating pies and baked confectionery, eating smaller meat and cheese portions. Limiting cola drinks and not smoking will help."

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