Med diet boosts dads' chances

MEN who eat a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and fish could boost their chances of becoming a father, according to a new study from Harvard University.

A Mediterranean-style diet, which also contains leafy vegetables and whole grains, can improve fertility by 11pc.

This could be especially important for couples who are trying to conceive naturally due the need for sperm to be "strong swimmers".

The research comes as a separate study found that men who take moderate exercise can also have a positive impact.

Dr Edward Kim, from the Society for Reproduction and Urology, said: "There is no doubt that mobility is one of the main issues in fertility."

Dr Allan Pacey, from the unit of reproductive medicine at the University of Sheffield, said the influence of diet on fertility had been of interest for some time.

" There is now good evidence from a variety of studies that men with a higher antioxidant intake are more likely to become fathers than men who don't."

He added the latest study "illustrates that a good diet is of benefit when trying to conceive".

hnews@herald.ie