BEIJING, June 9 (Xinhuanet) -- A new study finds men who eat healthier diets such as fruits, vegetables and reduced fat dairy products, may also have healthier sperm.

    "A healthy, well-balanced diet is not just important for preventing diseases like diabetes, high cholesterol, or hypertension, but it may be useful for preserving or improving your reproductive health too," said Dr. Jaime Mendiola of the University of Murcia, the lead researcher on the study from Spain.

    The study, published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, showed men with healthier sperm tended to eat more carbohydrates, fiber, folate, vitamin C and lycopene. They also tended to eat less fat and protein.

    The study was carried out among 61 men, 30 of whom had reproductive problems, while the remaining 31 acted as controls. "We saw that, among the couples with fertility problems coming to the clinic, the men with good semen quality ate more vegetables and fruit (more vitamins, folic acid and fibre and less proteins and fats) than those men with low seminal quality", explained Mendiola.

    Researchers concluded a healthy diet does seem to be a factor in sperm quality, but they added randomized controlled trials will be needed to confirm the relationship.

    (Agencies)