Why a little drink could help men to become fathers

MEN hoping to become fathers are often advised to avoid alcohol for fear of harming their fertility.

But a study suggests a few small beers or a bottle of wine a week may actually help men start a family.

Italian researchers who asked 323 men about their alcohol consumption found moderate drinkers had a better sperm count.

The study, led by the Fondazione Policlinico in Milan, suggests the antioxidants from grapes in wine, and a compound in beer hops called xanthohumol, may slightly improve sperm by protecting cells from damage.

Dr Elena Ricci, who led the research, said: ‘We found that men who consumed four to seven units per week had higher semen volume and total sperm count than those who drank less or more than that.

‘We concluded that moderate alcohol intake appears positively associated to semen quality in this group of men.

‘But the association between alcohol intake and male reproductive function is still controversial and several studies have shown that heavy drinking is linked to detrimental effects.’

Alcohol units are calculated differently in Italy from in the UK, with one unit representing 12.5 grams of alcohol instead of the eight grams used here.

Researchers classed moderate drinkers as men who consumed four to seven units of alcohol a week, which ranges from two-thirds of a bottle of wine to a bottle and a single small glass.

For beer drinkers, it works out as four to seven 330ml bottles of beer.

The results show that, compared with men drinking zero to three units of alcohol a week, moderate drinkers had a higher overall sperm count.

‘Higher total sperm count’