Friday, August 21, 2009

Maternal beef diet and lower sperm count

A mother's high beef consumption while pregnant was associated with lower sperm counts in her son, according to a study led by Shanna H. Swan, Ph.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology, of environmental medicine, and of community and preventative medicine [of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry] and reported in March 2007 in the "Journal of Human Reproduction." Researchers sought to examine the relationship between semen quality and long-term risks from growth hormones and other chemicals in beef. While the study results revealed a significant link between the lowest sperm counts and mothers who were the highest beef consumers (seven or more beef meals per weeks), researchers could not pinpoint hormones, pesticides or other environmental chemicals in the animal fat as a direct cause.

-News Release from the UR School of Medicine and Dentistry

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