Mediterranean Diet as a Shield against Male Infertility and Cancer Risk Induced by Environmental Pollutants: A Focus on Flavonoids

Abstract

The role of environmental factors in influencing health status is well documented. Heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, pesticides, ultrafine particles, produced by human activities put a strain on the body’s entire defense system. Therefore, together with public health measures, evidence-based individual resilience measures are necessary to mitigate cancer risk under environmental stress and to prevent reproductive dysfunction and non-communicable diseases; this is especially relevant for workers occupationally exposed to pollutants and/or populations residing in highly polluted areas. The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high intake of fruits and vegetables rich in flavonoids, that can promote the elimination of pollutants in tissues and fluids and/or mitigate their effects through different mechanisms. In this review, we collected evidence from pre-clinical and clinical studies showing that the impairment of male fertility and gonadal development, as well as cancers of reproductive system, due to the exposure of organic and inorganic pollutants, may be counteracted by flavonoids.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Environment: Occupational and Exposure Events, Effects on Human Health and Fertility

“…Pollutants, such as heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, pesticides and ultrafine particles, produced by human activities pose real threats to the body’s entire defense system. Trials from preclinical and clinical research studies indicate that compromised male fertility and gonadal development, as well as cancers of the reproductive system, resulting from the exposure to organic and inorganic pollutants can be contrasted by flavonoids [ 231 ].…”

Olive Oil Phenols Prevent Mercury-Induced Phosphatidylserine Exposure and Morphological Changes in Human Erythrocytes Regardless of Their Different Scavenging Activity

“…Finally, our findings strengthen the nutritional relevance of olive oil bioactive compounds to the claimed health-promoting effects of this component of the Mediterranean Diet. In this respect, antioxidant polyphenols are believed to play a major role in the positive correlation between adherence to the Mediterranean Dietary Habit and a low incidence of CVD [ 63 , 64 ]. In recent years, nutritional research as well as in vitro studies have mainly focused on the effects of HT in the progression of atherosclerosis [ 65 ].…”

Antioxidants in Pregnancy: Do We Really Need More Trials?

“…There has been a considerable amount of work regarding oxidative damage in sperm and oocytes. Male gametes are sensitive cells to the accumulation of damaged DNA, which can be induced by a wide variety of factors, such as diet [27], ionization, or even heavy metals [28,29]. Since DNA damage in the gametes could have serious consequences in reproduction [30], the sperm may also play a role in complicated pregnancies.…”