The body weights of 376 infertile women were compared with fertile
controls. The investigators concluded that 6% of infertility in which
ovulatory dysfunction is present results from being excessively underweight,
and another 6% from being excessively overweight. Green BB et al: Risk of
ovulatory infertility in relation to body weight. Fertil Steril 50(5):721-6,
1988.
The incidence of disorders of the male reproductive tract has more than
doubled in the past 30-50 years and sperm counts have declined by about half.
Similar abnormalities occur in the sons of women exposed to large amounts of
artificial oestrogen during pregnancy. Sharpe R et al: Are oestrogens involved
in falling sperm counts and disorders of the male reproductive tract? Lancet
341:1392-95, 1993.
Alcohol is a reproductive toxin. The authors discuss various mechanisms by
which alcohol can cause infertility in males. Anderson RA Jr et al: Alcohol
and male fertility. Br J Alcohol Alcohol 16(4):179-185, 1981.
Men with a low vitamin C intake have a markedly increased likelihood of
genetic damage to their sperm. Cigarette smoke is high in oxidants and
depletes the body of vitamin C and other antioxidants. Levels of a marker
indicating genetic damage to sperm cells was found to be 50% higher in smokers
than in non-smokers. The concentration of vitamin E in seminal fluid was 32%
lower. Male smokers may therefore experience mutations in their sperm which
can lead to cancer, birth defects and genetic diseases in their offspring.
Fraga CG et al: Smoking and low antioxidant levels increase oxidative damage
to sperm DNA. Mutat Res 351(2):199-203, 1996.
Selenium supplementation to males attending an infertility clinic proved
efficient in improving sperm motility. Macpherson A et al: The effect of
selenium supplementation in sub-fertile males (abstract). 8th International
Conference on Trace Element Metabolism in Man and Animals, 1993.
14 men with low sperm counts were supplemented with zinc sulphate for 4
months. While serum zinc levels did not change, semen zinc levels increased,
sperm count increased, and the wives of 3 patients conceived. Tikkiwal M et
al: Effect of zinc administration on seminal zinc and fertility of oligospermic
males. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 31(1):30-34, 1987.
