Lack of Dietary Folate in Men may affect their Offspring
Women, who are pregnant or plan to be pregnant, should eat plenty of green, leafy vegetables, which are good sources of B9 or folate. Folate is essential to normal fetal development, especially the brain, spinal chord and other neural anatomy.
But new research on rats suggests that men should also eat their leafy greens. Research at McGill University in Montréal reports that the sperm of folate deficient male rats is related to physical deformities in the fetus. Researchers have discovered that folate deficiency in fathers can be as debilitating to embryos as folate deficiency in mothers. Lack of folate causes alternations in sperm such as deformities of head, spine and limbs, at least in the laboratory.
Methylation is a process which can alter the behavior of genes in a way that can be passed on through generations. Folate regulates methylation. Some of the problems aren’t apparent at birth and include cancer, diabetes, autism and schizophrenia.
Folate deficient males were less fertile than those with sufficient folate. When the pups were born they were much more likely to be deformed in some way, including hydrocephalus (“water on the brain”), deformed spines and limbs with missing toes.
When the sperm DNA was compared with DNA of control rats, researchers discovered 57 places where methylation patterns differed, including 18 genes known to be involved in cancer in humans, six that are known to be involved in diabetes and seven that have been implicated in autism or schizophrenia.
This study suggests that males, as well as females, should eat folate rich foods like green leafy vegetables so that their folate levels are normal.
“All should be acquainted with the special value of fruits and vegetables fresh from the orchard and garden.” Child Guidance, page 357
Nature knows best!