Table 2.
Adjusted a semen quality parameters (mean (95% confidence interval)) according to intake of full-fat dairy foods
| Quantiles of dairy intake [range, servings/d] | N | Total sperm count (million) | Sperm concentration (million/mL) | Progressive motility (% motile) | Sperm morphology (% normal) | Ejaculate volume (mL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-fat dairy food b | ||||||
| Quartile 1 [0.00–0.57] | 37 | 137 (105–177) | 57.7 (43.3–76.9) | 28.4 (24.0–32.8) | 6.8 (5.7–7.8) | 2.7 (2.3–3.2) |
| Quartile 2 [0.59–0.94] | 40 | 110 (85–143) | 46.3 (35.5–60.4) | 27.6 (23.0–32.2) | 5.9 (4.9–7.0) | 2.7 (2.3–3.0) |
| Quartile 3 [0.96–1.67] | 39 | 126 (98–161) | 52.5 (39.6–69.5) | 26.5 (21.0–32.1) | 6.4 (5.5–7.4) | 2.7 (2.3–3.0) |
| Quartile 4 [1.68–5.45] | 39 | 114 (87–149) | 43.6 (33.0–57.6) | 22.9 (18.1–27.7) | 5.8 (4.6–7.0) | 2.9 (2.5–3.4) |
| P-trend | 0.65 | 0.35 | 0.08 | 0.47 | 0.41 | |
| Cheese c | ||||||
| Tertile 1 [0.00–0.43] | 43 | 134 (107–167) | 54.3 (42.6–69.2) | 28.9 (24.9–32.8) | 6.8 (5.9–7.7) | 2.9 (2.4–3.3) |
| Tertile 2 [0.45–0.80] | 56 | 133 (109–163) | 58.2 (47.2–71.8) | 27.3 (23.9–30.8) | 6.4 (5.6–7.2) | 2.6 (2.3–2.9) |
| Tertile 3 [0.82–2.43] | 56 | 101 (81–127) | 39.2 (30.8–49.9) | 23.4 (19.0–27.9) | 5.6 (4.6–6.6) | 2.8 (2.5–3.1) |
| P-trend | 0.06 | 0.03 | 0.07 | 0.11 | 0.95 | |
| Cream | ||||||
| Tertile 1 [0.00] | 39 | 99 (77–128) | 40.8 (31.9–52.2) | 23.4 (19.5–27.3) | 5.5 (4.6–6.4) | 2.7 (2.3–3.1) |
| Tertile 2 [0.02–0.08] | 65 | 125 (105–150) | 53.1 (43.6–64.6) | 28.2 (24.8–31.5) | 6.6 (5.8–7.4) | 2.7 (2.4–2.9) |
| Tertile 3 [0.14–2.0] | 51 | 135 (107–169) | 52.9 (41.4–67.6) | 26.4 (21.7–31.1) | 6.4 (5.5–7.2) | 2.9 (2.5–3.2) |
| P-trend | 0.27 | 0.51 | 0.97 | 0.65 | 0.38 | |
| Ice cream | ||||||
| Tertile 1 [0.00–0.02] | 51 | 128 (105–156) | 48.9 (40.1–59.8) | 24.8 (21.5–28.1) | 6.4 (5.5–7.2) | 2.9 (2.6–3.2) |
| Tertile 2 [0.08] | 55 | 106 (85–133) | 44.0 (34.6–55.8) | 26.7 (21.9–31.5) | 6.1 (5.2–7.0) | 2.7 (2.4–3.0) |
| Tertile 3 [0.14–2.00] | 49 | 132 (107–164) | 57.8 (46.4–72.1) | 27.9 (24.2–31.6) | 6.3 (5.4–7.1) | 2.7 (2.3–3.0) |
| P-trend | 0.41 | 0.12 | 0.34 | 0.96 | 0.41 | |
| Whole milk | ||||||
| None | 96 | 114 (98–134) | 48.8 (41.3–57.7) | 26.7 (23.4–30.0) | 6.0 (5.4–6.6) | 2.7 (2.4–2.9) |
| Any [0.02–1.00] | 59 | 135 (110–165) | 51.3 (41.3–63.7) | 25.9 (22.6–29.3) | 6.6 (5.8–7.5) | 2.9 (2.6–3.2) |
| P-value (comparing two groups) | 0.23 | 0.73 | 0.75 | 0.25 | 0.31 | |
a
Adjusted for age, total energy intake, body mass index, smoking status, abstinence time, previous infertility diagnosis, race, and dietary patterns
b
Includes cheese, cream, ice cream, and whole milk
c
Includes cream cheese and other cheese
*
P<0.05 compared to men in the lowest category of intake