Impact on Sperm and Egg Quality from Dietary Restrictions
Effects Persist Even After Normal Eating
A study has found that the 'time-restricted feeding' method, used as a form of intermittent fasting, may affect reproduction.
On the 12th (local time), a research team led by Professor Aleksei Marklakov from the University of East Anglia in the UK published results in the 'Proceedings of the Royal Society B' analyzing the effects of time-restricted feeding on reproductive ability using 'zebra fish'.
Time-restricted feeding is a method where food is consumed only during specific time periods, and no food except water is eaten outside those times.
Zebra fish, a tropical fish native to India belonging to the carp family, share more than 80% genetic similarity with humans and have recently been used in various fields as a non-clinical translational research model that can replace mammalian experiments.
The research team stated that the way organisms cope with insufficient food intake can affect the quality of eggs and sperm, and that these effects may persist even after fasting ends.
When Food Decreases, Survival is Prioritized... 'Qualitative Decline' in Reproduction Even After Feeding Resumes
The research team measured how zebra fish allocate resources to body maintenance and reproduction, including sperm and eggs, during fasting periods and after exposure to food, and analyzed the condition of the offspring born as a result.
The results showed that females sacrifice reproductive ability by reducing the production of the second generation during fasting periods, increasing resource allocation to somatic cells that maintain the body for survival.
After fasting ended and normal feeding resumed, females increased the number of offspring, but the survival rate of these offspring decreased. In other words, despite the return of feeding activity, a 'qualitative decline in reproduction' was observed.
Males also showed a decrease in sperm motility.
Accordingly, the research team emphasized the importance of considering not only the weight loss and health improvement effects of fasting but also its impact on reproduction.
Co-author of the paper, Dr. Edward Abimey-Cook, explained, "Females increase the number of eggs by sacrificing egg quality when normal feeding is restored after fasting, ultimately resulting in a decline in the quality of the second generation."
The research team added, "Negative effects on the quality of eggs and sperm were observed even after fasting ended and normal feeding resumed. Additional research is needed to understand how long it takes for egg and sperm quality to fully recover."
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