High-protein diets reduce male fertility

According to a team of English researchers, high-protein diets are harmful to male fertility. They lower sperm and testosterone levels. Explanations.

Do not abuse high protein diets

There was a time when high-protein diets – that is, meat, fish, eggs and high-protein powders – were popular because they help you lose weight quickly. Bad for the kidneys, they are decried now. However, some people, especially men, continue to follow this type of diet.

High-protein diets meet with some success with men because they allow them to develop their muscle mass. What makes them more manly? Not quite. According to a study conducted by scientists from the University of Worcester in England and published in the journal Nutrition and Health on March 7, 2022, a diet too rich in protein would affect the fertility of men.

More muscles but less sperm

In their work, the scientists looked at 27 studies involving 309 healthy men. They then found that diets containing more than 35% protein lower the number of sperm present in seminal fluid. They also reduce testosterone levels by 37%.

In addition to a decline in fertility, low testosterone levels can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes and even Alzheimer’s disease. Who says more protein also says less carbohydrates and that is a problem. According to the researchers, low carbohydrate diets are likely to have endocrine effects. For those who still want to have a protein-rich diet, scientists recommend limiting their intake to 25%.