Doctoral Degrees (Nutrition and Dietetics)
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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Nutrition and Dietetics) by Subject "Environment"
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Item Open Access Impact of micro-nutrient supplementation on semen parameters(University of the Free State, 2016) Du Toit, Elmine (WC); Lategan, R.; Grobler, S.English: The health of parents determine the development of their children and a link between paternal diet, metabolic health, body weight and semen parameters have been shown. Various factors may influence semen parameters and in this study the effect of micro-nutrient and omega-3 supplementation on semen parameters was investigated by evaluating semen parameters and fatty acid composition of intact semen at baseline and three months after intervention. The study also investigated the effect of age, environmental-, lifestyle-, anthropometric and dietary factors on semen parameters. A placebo controlled intervention study on 50 apparently healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 45 years was conducted and data collection took place at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State. Participants completed a self-reporting questionnaire to report on age, environmental-, lifestyle- and dietary factors. Standard techniques were used to obtain anthropometric measures and physical activity was determined using the self-administered short International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ). Two semen samples were collected and the average used to provide a representative reflection of sperm parameters. Semen analysis included semen volume, sperm concentration, -morphology, quantitative and qualitative motility, pH as well as fatty acid analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample and Chi-squared tests or Fisher exact tests were used to determine associations between variables and two tailed Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlations, as well as analysis of variance were used to describe correlations. A relation between aging and sperm parameters are described in literature, however in this younger study sample with a median age of 24 years, no correlation was found between age and semen parameters, probably because age related changes are only expected later. According to body mass index classification the majority of participants were overweight/ obese and according to neck circumference measurements a large percentage of participants were overweight/obese, but none of the anthropometric measures showed an association with semen concentration, -motility or morphology. In literature, the number of sitting hours per day is linked to semen quality and in this study a weak correlation was found between sperm morphology and the number of hours per day spent sitting. Reported high activity levels did not show an association with sperm parameters. More than half of participants spent more than four hours per day using electronic devices connected to Wi-Fi. A significant association between using electronic devices connected to Wi-Fi for four hours or more per day and a lower sperm motility was found. No statistically significant association between where the cellular phone is carried and normal or abnormal sperm parameters were shown. Although more than half of participants in this study took hot baths, no significant association was found between the use of hot baths and below reference limits for sperm parameters. More than a third of participants wore tight fitting underwear or trousers, which may contribute to an elevation in scrotal temperature and consequently poor semen quality, however no association was found between wearing tight fitting clothing and poor sperm parameters. A healthy prudent diet has been proposed as an economical and safe way to improve sperm function. Although the intake of vegetables and fruit were inadequate and a cause for concern in this study, no association with poor semen quality was found. Alcohol intake of more than five units per week however was significant associated with lower sperm concentration. Supplementing a healthy group of young men with a multi vitamin-mineral and omega-3 supplement over a period of 90 days did not influence the fatty acid composition of their semen or most of the sperm parameters, but showed an improvement in the percentage of sperm with normal forms. For future studies, it is recommended that a larger sample be included if more resources are available and that other geographic areas in South Africa be included, especially as habitual food intake can differ considerably. This study provided valuable information about the possible negative effects of alcohol and use of electronic devices on sperm parameters and the potential of nutrient supplementation to improve sperm morphology. These results can be used when advising males about reproductive health, in order to optimise sperm parameters, which could influence the health of future generations.