Deakin University
Browse

Experimental reduction in dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids depresses sperm competitiveness

Download (221.9 kB)
Version 2 2024-06-04, 03:18
Version 1 2015-02-19, 19:27
journal contribution
posted on 2014-09-24, 00:00 authored by M M Rahman, C Gasparini, Giovanni TurchiniGiovanni Turchini, J P Evans
The health benefits of diets containing rich sources of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA) are well documented and include reductions in the risk of several diseases typical of Western societies. The dietary intake of n-3 LC-PUFA has also been linked to fertility, and there is abundant evidence that a range of ejaculate traits linked to fertility in humans, livestock and other animals depend on an adequate intake of n-3 LC-PUFA from dietary sources. However, relatively few studies have explored how n-3 LC-PUFA influence reproductive fitness, particularly in the context of sexual selection. Here, we show that experimental reduction in the level of n-3 LC-PUFA in the diet of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) depresses a male’s share of paternity when sperm compete for fertilization, confirming that the currently observed trend for reduced n-3 LC-PUFA in western diets has important implications for individual reproductive fitness.

History

Journal

Biology letters

Volume

10

Issue

9

Pagination

20140623 - 20140623

Publisher

The Royal Society Publishing

Location

London, England

ISSN

1744-9561

eISSN

1744-957X

Publication classification

C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2014, The Royal Society Publishing