As the field of infertility is expanding, more research is being conducted on better understanding the underlying mechanisms involved in infertility. Recently, a new and interesting finding has been shared involving tomatoes and their possible impact on male infertility. This new research focused on the effects of an antioxidant present in tomatoes known as lycopene which is responsible for the red colour associated with tomatoes. Lycopene is a natural antioxidant found in tomatoes and has been of considerable interest in regard to male fertility. However with previous studies it has been difficult to reach a conclusion due to the lack of proper control groups.
Male infertility has recently become more of a topic of conversation. Despite what was thought of back in the day, that female infertility accounts for most of a couples issues with conceiving naturally, it is now believed that both female and male infertility contribute to about 40% each. And so more and more research are focusing on male infertility and ways to improve sperm quantity as well as quality. Research like the one discussed here provide us with hope that there are ways to improve sperm quality and tackle male infertility. More research needs to be conducted with higher numbers of participants to fully understand the effects of lactolycopene but it is a step in the right direction.
In the study by Dr Allen Pacey and Dr Liz Williams, from the University of Sheffield, they used lactolycopene which is similar to lycopene but easier to absorb as a supplement and the effects could be more easily interpreted. The sample size was 60 healthy men between the ages of 19 and 30 who were studied for the time span of 12 weeks. They were randomly assigned to either the subject group (receiving the supplement) or the control group (not receiving the supplement). Sperm samples were examined at the beginning of the study, halfway through and at the end of the 12 weeks. The supplement had not resulted in an increase in the number of sperm. However, it had caused an increase in the speed and healthy morphology of the sample. There may be other factors involved which require methodological improvement and so a larger sample size with more control over confounding variables needs to be examined. The future steps would be to examine the results of the supplement on sub-fertile men and see whether it can potentially be used to enhance fertility. There are also studies being conducted on the effects of lycopene on prostate cancer. Although more research needs to be done to reach a conclusion, some studies suggest that it can reduce the risk of cancer.
Lycopene is believed to work as an antioxidant to protect against free radicals which are produced naturally by cells as a consequence of energy production. In terms of sperm, free radicals are produced rapidly as the sperm uses energy to move. These free radicals are harmful and can have negative impacts on the sperm. There is a balance that is maintained between free radical production and survival in healthy sperm. Lycopene can play a role in reducing the free radicals produced by sperm and allowing better survival rates. As a result, sperm morphology and progression can be improved. Lycopene can be found naturally in a variety of fruits and so its okay if you are not a big fan of tomatoes. It is also found in guava, watermelon, papaya, pink grapefruit, and cooked sweet red peppers. If you are not fond of any of these, there are supplements that you can take. So there is not really any excuse for not adding lycopene to your routine. Its important to note however that lycopene supplements may be unsafe for some individuals such as women during breast feeding. Therefore, just like other supplements, it is worth speaking with a healthcare professional before routinely adding this supplement at a high dose.
With these novel studies focusing on natural remedies that may help with infertility along side medical interventions, we hope to increase chances of pregnancy. There is no harm in using natural ingredients from the environment. Could it be that all of the push for people to eat healthier diet full of vegetables and fruits could actually be beneficial for fertility as well? The answer may seem like a logical yes but with studies like this, more scientific proof is put forth for people to better understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this study or need any advice.
