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The very same nutrient that moms-to-be-need to fight
birth defects in their infants can also be the key vitamin dads need
to avoid male infertility problems.
Several clinical trials have
pointed to folate as a requirement to a healthy reproductive system
not only among women, but also for men.
One of these trials was
authorized by Bruce Ames, PhD, of the University of California,
Berkeley. In the study of 48 males, it showed that those most
deficient in folate also had the lowest number and the poorest
quality of sperm (Fertility and Sterility, February 2001). “We
think inadequate folate creates breaks in chromosomes similar to
those caused by radiation, which might explain the effect on
sperm,” says study author. “And studies show that 10 percent of
men have folate levels low enough to experience these chromosome
breaks.”
These new findings on the
role of folate on male fertility may open avenues of future
fertility research and treatment.
The Department of Science and
Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute has published the
Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intakes (RENI) that replaces the old
RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowances) to guide Filipinos in their
vitamin and mineral requirements. For men, ages 10 to 64, 400
micrograms of folate is required daily.
Folate sources include dark
green, leafy vegetables, beans and legumes, citrus fruits and
juices, wheat bran and other whole grains, poultry, pork, shellfish
and liver. Fortified food like bread is also an excellent source.
In addition to poor dietary
intake of folate itself, deficient intake of other B vitamins can
contribute to folate deficiency. These vitamins include B1, B2 and
B3 which are all involved in folate recycling. Excessive intake of
alocohol, smoking, and heavy coffee drinking can also contribute to
folate deficiency.
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