Trying to conceive? Dads may need folate too

Women who are trying to conceive or who have become pregnant are urged to take their prenatal vitamins, which are high in folic acid. Folic acid (or folate), when taken before and during pregnancy, has been shown to reduce the risk of neural tube defects in newborns.

A recent study suggests that it might not be a bad idea for dads-to-be to get a little extra folate in their diet as well. When researchers studied sperm samples from 89 healthy men, they found that men who had diets rich in folate or who took folic acid were less likely to have sperm with a chromosomal abnormality called aneuploidy. Though the defect was rare in general, it was up to 30% less common in men who had high levels of folate in their diet.

More studies need to be done to find out exactly what this finding means. In the mean time, if you'd like to increase the folate in your diet, it can be found in leafy greens, enriched grains, as well as beans, peas, and fruits.