Study finds sunlight improves sperm quality in men

According to the study, sperms become better at swimming towards the egg, have greater speed, and become more penetrative post vitamin D treatment.

Vitamin D, which is produced in body after exposure to sun's ultraviolet B light, basically helps regulate levels of calcium and phosphorus to generate healthy bones.

“Vitamin D levels were positively associated with sperm motility, suggesting a role for vitamin D in human sperm function,” the Daily Mail quoted study leader Dr. Martin Blomberg Jensen as saying.

The study findings might help explain why most of the couples conceive on holidays.

Study details and findings
For their study, the researchers at the University of Copenhagen randomly tested the quality of sperm in 300 men, and then carried out a detailed analysis of spermatozoa from a further 40 men in vitro conditions.

At the same time, the researchers examined the level of vitamin D and follicle stimulating hormone, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in blood.

Findings
After the analysis, researchers found that almost half of the study participants had insufficient amount of vitamin D, indicating lack of exposure to sunlight or time in artificial sources like solarium.

Furthermore, it was found that the number of healthy sperms in men with insufficient vitamin D was significantly lower than those with normal levels of the sunshine vitamin.

These participants reportedly had vitamin D levels below 50 nmol/l, while the optimum level recommended by experts is a minimum of 75 mmol/l.

It was also noted that the acrosome reaction, chemical process needed to fertilize the egg, was hindered in those lacking sufficient doses of vitamin D.

Findings of the study, published in the latest issue of journal 'Human Reproduction,' back previous research findings which showed that an hour of sunshine can boost a man's testosterone levels by 69 percent.

Similar research in past
Previously, researchers at the Medical University of Graz in Austria had found that vitamin D boosts men's sex drive by increasing testosterone levels in the body.

“Men who ensure their body is at least sufficiently supplied with vitamin D are doing good for their testosterone levels and their libido among other things,” the experts had commented.