Research progress in the effects of anti-inflammatory diets on male semen quality: a review

Global male fertility is experiencing a continuous decline, and inflammation is considered a key factor contributing to impaired semen quality. As a critical component of lifestyle, diets are closely associated with inflammation levels, among which anti-inflammatory diets hold potential value in modulating inflammation. Evidence from the literature indicates that inflammation induces oxidative stress and elevates pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, leading to reduced sperm count, motility, and concentration, accompanied by DNA damage and apoptosis. Anti-inflammatory diets can alleviate inflammatory states through multiple pathways, thereby improving sperm count, motility, and concentration, and ultimately enhancing semen quality. This review systematically summarizes the relationship between semen quality and inflammation, the mechanisms of anti-inflammatory diets, and research progress regarding the role of anti-inflammatory diets in improving male fertility, with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the prevention of male infertility and the promotion of fertility preservation.