Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark analyzed medical data and physical assessment tests of 1,221 young Danes between the ages of 18 and 28. At the same time, they established their alcohol consumption using a questionnaire. Participants were asked to quantify the weekly dose of alcohol they drank, report whether they consumed more than 5 units of alcohol on one occasion, and whether they had been drunk in the month prior to the study.
The results show that young men consumed an average of 11 units of alcohol per week, that more than two-thirds (64%) participated in a night of drunkenness during the month and that 60% of them were drunk. more than twice. One unit corresponding to 10g of alcohol, i.e. 10 cl of wine or 25 cl of beer.
Alcohol interferes with fertility
The researchers found that the higher the alcohol consumption, the lower the quality of the sperm. It contained fewer sperm and a higher proportion of poor quality (morphologically abnormal and less mobile) sperm.
This change in the quality of sperm was detectable from 5 units consumed per week, but became more marked for men who drink more than 25 weekly doses.
“The heaviest drinkers (40 drinks and more per week) produced 33% less sperm than the smallest drinkers (1-5 drinks), and 51% less normal sperm” explains Tina Kold Jensen, researcher and co-author of study.
If the amount of alcohol drunk regularly is correlated with the poor quality of sperm, the mode of consumption does not play a role. In fact, the number of “drinking bouts” had no impact on the composition of the sperm.
Poor quality of life and poor eating habits are detrimental to the quality of sperm. Failing to drink alcohol, men who are concerned about their fertility should rather stock up on raw vegetables. Indeed, the following three antioxidants, beta-carotene from carrots, lutein from lettuce and lycopene from tomatoes are the secret ingredients for healthy and more fertile sperm, according to an American study from the Harvard School of Public Health.
