Association between Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) with semen quality of men attending fertility clinics: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background

Infertility is a significant global health issue, with males contributing to 40–50% of cases. Male infertility is often linked to abnormal semen parameters, which are influenced by various environmental, nutritional, and lifestyle factors. Although individual nutrients have been shown to affect male fertility, thus the present study aimed to evaluate the association between Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) with semen quality of men attending fertility clinics.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was to evaluate the correlation between the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010) and the quality of semen in a sample of 408 males who visited reproductive clinics in Kalar city, Kurdistan. The AHEI-2010 results categorize the participants into tertiles. A comprehensive assessment of semen quality conducted by measuring viscosity, volume, concentration, total sperm count, motility, and morphology. Dietary intake assessed by administering a 147-item food frequency questionnaire and computed AHEI-2010 scores after accounting for total energy consumption.

Results

Significant differences in semen parameters were observed across AHEI-2010 tertiles. Men in the highest tertile had a higher sperm concentration (35.9 ± 7.1 M/mL) and total sperm number (83.4 ± 18.7 M) compared to those in the lowest tertile with sperm concentration (15.3 ± 5.2 M/mL) and total sperm number (38.2 ± 12.6 M). Logistic regression analysis showed that men in highest tertile had significantly better odds of normal sperm motility (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.11–1.71) and morphology (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.22–1.85) compared to lowest tertile.

Conclusion

Higher AHEI-2010 scores are associated with improved semen quality among Kurdish men. These findings suggest that adherence to a healthier diet could be an effective strategy for improving male fertility in this population.