Mechanisms Associating Improper Diet and Obesity with Infertility
Skoracka, K.; Eder, P.; Łykowska-Szuber, L.; Dobrowolska, A.; Krela-Kaźmierczak, I. Department of Gastroenterology, Dietetics and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Heliodor Święcicki Hospital, 60-355 Poznań, Poland A high-fat diet and obesity, the development of which is encouraged by the western lifestyle, can significantly affect male fertility. An inappropriate diet may be directly related to the increase of oxidative stress, but also contribute to the development of obesity, which is associated with the deterioration of fertility, both in terms of generating oxidative stress as well as hormonal or immunological disorders. In obese individuals, disorders on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis are observed, as well as elevated oestrogen levels with simultaneous decrease of testosterone, LH and FSH hormone levels. Weight loss in obese men seems to be the first, and the most basic step in the treatment of male infertility.