Pomegranate juice may boost sperm mobility
Regular consumption of pomegranate juice (PJ, 石榴汁) may have an effect on the quality and mobility of sperm, reported by a new research study lead by Gaffari Turk from Firat University in Turkey and also published in Clinical Nutrition.
The lead researcher says, “”The results of this study demonstrated, for the first time, that daily consumption of PJ for seven weeks caused increased spermatogenic cell density, epididymal sperm concentration, sperm motility and decreased abnormal sperm rate related with decreased lipid peroxidation in male rats.”
For seven weeks, Turk’s research team conducted tests on 28 male Wistar rats by dividing them into four groups and allowed them to drink 1 mL of distilled water, 0.75 mL of water and 0.25 mL of PJ, 0.50 mL of water and 0.50 mL of PJ, and 1 mL of PJ daily for seven weeks.
The experiment suggested that PJ consumption can reduce the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA, 丙二醛), which are a reactive carbonyl compound and end product of lipid oxidation. The effect of drinking PJ with respect to water decreased MDA levels by 48.5% in the serum and 63.5% in the sperm in the tests on rats.
“Spermatozoa are especially susceptible to peroxidative damage because of the high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids which are involved in regulation of sperm maturation, [and] spermatogenesis,” explained the researchers.
They also pointed out that only a high concentration of PJ had a significant impact on sperm abnormalities, compared to PJ and water mixtures.
However, further study is needed to determine whether PJ has the same effect on humans, and the level of PJ concentration required to decrease human sperm abnormalities.
The current market has been increasingly confident on the health benefits of PJ as commercial advertisers are promoting PJ as improving heart health, prevent prostate cancer and reduce the chance of arthritis.
Source: Clinical Nutrition (Elsevier)
“Effects of pomegranate juice consumption on sperm quality, spermatogenic cell density, antioxidant activity and testosterone level in male rats”
Authors: G. Turk, M. Sonmez, M. Aydin, A. Yuce, S. Gur, M. Yuksel, E.H. Aksu, H. Aksoy
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