Men who consume more vegetables and fruits with pesticide residue have a reduced percentage of normal sperm as well as reduced sperm counts, according to a research conducted by Harvard University,Reuters reported. The study was published online in the journal Human Reproduction.
In the study, scientists analyzed sperm samples from 155 men who were visiting a fertility clinic between the years 2007 and 2012. They also asked men about their intakes of vegetables and fruits. Scientists classified vegetables and fruits as low, moderate and high in pesticide residues based on the annual United States Department of Agriculture Data.
For instance, apples, strawberries, pears, spinach and peppers have large amounts of pesticide residue, while onions, grapefruit, beans and peas tend to have low-to-moderate amounts of pesticide residue.
Half of the men consumed 3.5 servings of vegetables and fruits each day. Researchers found that men who consumed 1.5 servings of high-pesticide produce each day had a 29 percent lower ejaculate volume, 32 percent fewer normal-appearing sperm and 49 percent lower sperm counts compared to men who consumed less than 1.5 serving of high-pesticide produce each day.
The researchers said that the results of the study indicate that exposure to pesticides employed in agricultural production through foods may be enough to affect spermatogenesis in men.
However, the authors of the study cautioned that the findings may not be applicable to the general population because the study participants were men who were seeking help with fertility problems, according to The Washington Post.
Allan Pacey, Professor of Andrology at the University of Sheffield, said that the study had limitations; therefore, men should not stop eating fresh fruit and vegetables. As of now, there is no proof that switching to organic produce improves semen fertility.