The importance of folic acid in female fertility is well documented.
Not surprisingly, new supportive research from Iran’s Isfahan University of Medical Sciences has highlighted the importance of folate levels in male fertility as well.
The study found that males with sufficient serum folate levels (B9) have significantly higher sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and improved DNA Fragmentation levels (DFI).
This finding can be explained by several mechanisms, notably the role of folate in the synthesis of nucleic acids and gene expression, folate’s antioxidant properties that protect sperm from lipid per oxidation and DNA damage, and decreasing levels of homocysteine and associated inflammatory cytokines.
Vitamin B9 (folate) can be found in folate-rich foods such as dark green leafy vegetables, orange juice, and liver as well as folate supplementation in pill or injection form: a great, easy supplement to help male partners enhance their fertility chances!
I hope you have found this helpful, and do let me know if you have any questions!
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In health,
Dr Jocelyn Land-Murphy, ND
Terra Life
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References:
Alamdari, S. et al. (2023). Does folate deficiency alter sperm parameters in infertile males? Immunopathologia Persa.