Meat intake and reproductive parameters among young men.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the United States, anabolic sex steroids are administered to cattle for growth promotion. There is concern regarding the reproductive consequences of this practice in men who eat beef. We investigated whether meat consumption was associated with semen quality parameters and reproductive hormone levels in young men.

Methods

Semen samples were obtained from 189 men aged 18-22 years. Diet was assessed with a previously validated food frequency questionnaire. We used linear regression to analyze the cross-sectional associations of meat intake with semen quality parameters and reproductive hormones while adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

There was an inverse relation between processed red meat intake and total sperm count. The adjusted relative dif

SUBMITTER: Afeiche MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4180710 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature