Dietary intake of choline and betaine in relation to infertility in Iranian men

The prevalence of male infertility is increasing drastically and in associated with poor quality of life. The current investigation aimed to examine the dietary intakes of choline and betaine in relation to infertility among Iranian men. This case–control study was conducted on ۳۰۰ infertile and ۳۰۰ fertile men, aged from ۲۰ to ۵۵ years, in Isfahan, Iran. Cases were recruited using a convenience sampling method among newly-diagnosed infertile men visiting Isfahan infertility clinics. Male infertility was diagnosed according to World Health Organization ۲۰۲۱ standards by an andrologist. Controls were selected through a random sampling method from men attending Isfahan health centers. Having a child under ۲ years old or a naturally pregnant wife was the inclusion criterion for the control men. Dietary intakes of participants were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Finally, participants were classified according to tertiles of choline and betaine intake. Participants had a mean age of ۳۶.۸±۵.۱ years. After controlling for all potential confounders, a significant inverse relation was observed between dietary intake of choline and odds of male infertility (ORT۳ vs. T۱ = ۰.۵۰; ۹۵% CI: ۰.۲۸-۰.۹۱). In addition, the highest dietary intakes of betaine (ORT۳ vs. T۱ = ۰.۴۶; ۹۵% CI: ۰.۲۶-۰.۷۹) was associated with reduced likelihood of male infertility, compared to the lowest dietary intakes. The present study demonstrated that higher dietary consumption of choline and betaine were related to lower odds of male infertility. Further prospective studies are required to affirm these findings.

کلیدواژه ها:

Choline ، Betaine ، Male infertility ، Case-control study.