ZINC DEFICIENCY AND MALE INFERTILITY – WHAT SEXUAL MEN NEED TO
KNOW
A diet which is deficient in zinc may lead to infertility in some men, according to recent findings from a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The study involved 11 men who maintained a diet containing only 10 percent of their RDA for zinc. As a result, researchers say that the subjects’ semen volume decreased more than 30 percent compared with semen levels later in the study when the men were consuming adequate amounts of zinc. The findings suggest that while the men’s total sperm count did not suffer a significant change, the lowered volume could cause a decrease in fertility by reducing the migration of sperm in the woman’s reproductive tract.
Since zinc deficiency is difficult to detect, researchers recommend that all men who have fertility problems check with a doctor to make sure they are getting the Recommended Daily Allowance of the essential mineral. In most cases, men should be able to get an adequate intake of zinc through their diets— red meat and dark turkey meat are excellent sources. However, vegetarians may need to take a zinc supplement. In any event, men should consult their doctors before increasing their zinc intake because too much zinc can irritate the stomach and cause vomiting.
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