In recent years, the ketogenic diet has become increasingly popular. The diet, according to many who have tried it, offers other benefits beyond weight loss.
Besides helping men lose weight, a new study shows that men who are obese can see an improvement in the quality and quantity of their sperm when they follow the ketogenic diet.
The case study followed two overweight men who followed a ketogenic diet and discovered that their sperm count and quality significantly improved after they dropped weight. Research from Brazil's Universidade of Sao Paulo was shown at the 2020 European and Internal Obesity Congress.
After three months of adhering to the ketogenic diet, the first case's participant shed about 27 kg. His proportion of body fat decreased from 42% to 34%.
The second participant saw a decrease in body fat percentage from 26% to 21% and a weight loss of around 9 kg in just three months. Not only did the quantity of tested sperm grow by more than 100 million, but the quality of those sperm also improved. Interestingly, though, the patient's testosterone levels did drop a little.
Dieters adhered to the 2004 Spanish commercial weight-loss program Pronokal, which has been the subject of extensive research. This diet is different from the standard ketogenic diet. This diet restricts carbs to fewer than 50 grams daily and calories to 800.
There is some indication that a low-carb diet might improve sexual health and that increasing fat intake can promote healthy sperm counts; however, the study was too small to make any firm conclusions.
On top of that, research has connected a diet heavy in processed foods with low sperm count. There is some evidence that a diet higher in fish and vegetables might improve sexual performance, including sperm count, libido, and general vitality.