Should Men Also Take Folic Acid Supplements?
Monday March 24, 2008
As you already know, women are encouraged to take folic acid supplements while trying to get pregnant, primarily to protect against birth defects. But should men also take folic acid? A new study shows a possible link between folate-rich diets and healthier sperm in men.
In this study, they looked at healthy men, who were not dealing with infertility or reproductive problems. Through questionnaires, they looked at the men’s diets, including vitamin taking habits. About a week after the men completed the questionnaires, the researchers took sperm samples.
In the study, men with diets including the highest intake of folate tended to have lower rates of sperm with abnormal chromosomes -- 19% lower than men with moderate folate intake and 20% lower compared to men with a low folate diet.
But does this mean that folic acid, or a folate-rich diet, will lead to fewer birth defects, or improved fertility, for men? Researchers say not necessarily. The researchers did not show a cause-and-effect relationship, but only a link.
Does your partner take a daily vitamin? Does he eat folate-rich foods, like citrus fruits, green leafy veggies, and whole grains? Will this new study make any difference in your eating habits? Share your thoughts here in the comments, or in our forums.
In this study, they looked at healthy men, who were not dealing with infertility or reproductive problems. Through questionnaires, they looked at the men’s diets, including vitamin taking habits. About a week after the men completed the questionnaires, the researchers took sperm samples.
In the study, men with diets including the highest intake of folate tended to have lower rates of sperm with abnormal chromosomes -- 19% lower than men with moderate folate intake and 20% lower compared to men with a low folate diet.
But does this mean that folic acid, or a folate-rich diet, will lead to fewer birth defects, or improved fertility, for men? Researchers say not necessarily. The researchers did not show a cause-and-effect relationship, but only a link.
Does your partner take a daily vitamin? Does he eat folate-rich foods, like citrus fruits, green leafy veggies, and whole grains? Will this new study make any difference in your eating habits? Share your thoughts here in the comments, or in our forums.
Comments
I wonder about this study because there seems to be a lot of press recently about a connection between increased folate intake and colon cancer. http://coloncancer.about.com/od/cancerresearch/a/06092007.htm
One thing I think that gets glossed over repeatedly in studies about nutrition and health is whether the people tested ate a balanced diet in the first place. If you are eating a balanced diet, you are more likely to have healthy sperm. If you are not eating a healthy diet and supplements are taken you are likely to have more healthy sperm than someone who is eating an unbalanced/unhealthy diet and does not take supplements.
Another thought is whether diet (not supplements) affects chromosomes, which are the most likely reasons for miscarriage or chromosomal disorders.
I believe, especially in light of the studies connecting folate supplements and colon cancer that there should be prescriptions written for vegetables. Forget the supplement and eat some endive or edamame if you want to up your folate. Greens don’t cause colon cancer, on the contrary, they probably help prevent it.
It’s ridiculous to think that we can get all the folate we (men and women) need from food alone. Read this article about how much folate we should get. We’ve got to spread the word about this to help prevent problem pregancies. Just eating a healthy diet is NOT the answer.
Glutamine is an amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks to protein. Glutamine is not just any amino acid, it is the most abundant amino acid in our body – and highly concentrated in our muscles. Glutamine has recently been re-classified as a conditionally essential amino acid. This means that while the body can make glutamine, there are times when the body’s need for glutamine is greater than its ability to produce glutamine.
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sanjeppu
Supplements from Foods
A Canadian company, Naturally Nova Scotia, makes supplements from foods instead of synthetics. The have vitamin C from fruit, herbal tinctures, green drinks, vitamin D3, and others.