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NIGER DELTA JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & MEDICAL RESEARCH

A Publication Of Nigeria Medical Association Bayelsa State Branch

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Archive | ISSUE: , Volume: Jan-Mar-2026

KETOGENIC DIET PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECT ON SPERM PROFILE IN INDUCED STARVATION MALE WISTAR RATS


Author:Uvoh SM , Kiridi EGE , Kianen S , Bonnie KG

published date:2026-Mar-29

FULL TEXT in - | page 31-38

Abstract

Background: Stress refers to a condition of mental and physiological strain that occurs when the body is exposed to demanding circumstances. A ketogenic diet, which is high in fat and low in carbohydrates, forces the body to utilise fat rather than carbohydrates for energy, leading to the production of ketone bodies by the liver as an alternative energy source. Objective: This study investigated the physiological effects of a ketogenic diet on the sperm profile of starvation-induced male Wistar rats.

Methods: Sixty male rats were divided into six groups of ten animals each and observed for 42 days, excluding a two-week acclimatisation period. Semen samples were collected and analysed using the haemocytometer method.

Results: Rats subjected to 9- and 18-hour starvation periods and fed ketogenic diets had slightly higher sperm counts (503.0 and 503.5 mm³ respectively) compared with the control group (481.3 mm³). Progressive sperm motility showed a non-significant decrease in starvation-induced groups relative to the control, whereas non-progressive motility increased significantly. A significant reduction in immotile sperm count was observed in the 9-hour starvation group (20.50 mm³) compared with the 18-hour group (25.25 mm³) and the control group (25.00 mm³). Conversely, rats subjected to starvation but fed a standard diet showed a significant reduction in total sperm count compared with the control group, although progressive motility increased.

Conclusion: Prolonged fasting may influence sperm parameters either positively or negatively depending on its duration and dietary context. Extended fasting combined with a standard diet may significantly reduce total sperm count, suggesting that men intending to conceive should exercise caution when engaging in prolonged fasting practices.

Keywords: Diets, Sperm count, Starvation, Rats,

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