Reproductive health-promoting effects of functional foods
Omowumi T. Kayode, Nkechinyere J. Ohanaka, Ikeoluwa O. Kolawole, Olatayo A. Afolabi, Matthew Iyobhebhe
Abstract
Functional foods are foods that, in addition to providing basic nutrients, have health-promoting effects when ingested consistently over a period of time. These foods can exist in their natural forms or might have been enhanced through fortification, biotransformation, or genetic modification. Globally, a lot of attention has been drawn to its consumption as a cheaper and safer remedy for the prevention, treatment, and management of several health-related conditions, including those of reproductive difficulties such as infertility. Infertility is a condition that is prevalent among some married couples and involves difficulty in procreation after about twelve months of unprotected intercourse between heterosexual couples. Oxidative stress-related infertility can be managed by functional foods rich in antioxidants and other phytochemicals with modulatory effects on reproductive tissues. Consumption of prescribed functional foods can alleviate functional disorders of the reproductive tissues and hence encourage higher success rates at conception trials.Keywords: functional foods, reproductive, infertility, health, antioxidants