A new study has found that a man's weight may affect the genetic makeup of his sperm.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, could explain why children who are born to obese fathers are more likely to become obese themselves.
To arrive to their conclusion, the researchers studied the genetic makeup of the sperm from 13 lean men and compared them to those from 10 obese men, LiveScience reported.
The study found that the sperm from the obese men had different "epigenetic" markers from those of the lean men, especially those markers that play a role in appetite control and brain function and development.
In a separate phase of the study, the researchers also investigated six men who went through weight loss surgery to check how the procedure has affected their sperm makeup.
What the researchers discovered was that there were about 5,000 structural changes to the DNA of the sperm cell before, immediately after, and a year after the surgery.
While more studies need to be conducted to find out what the changes could mean and how it affects men's offspring, the findings still serve as evidence that a man's sperm can tell something about his health.
With these recent findings, senior study author Dr. Romain Barres believes that women should not be the only target for any health advice, such as avoiding alcohol and eating a healthy diet, during preconception period.
"It's common knowledge that when a woman is pregnant she should take care of herself — not drink alcohol, stay away from pollutants, etc. — but if the implication of our study holds true, then recommendations should be directed towards men, too," he said, according to EurekAlert.
Now, Barres and his team are working with a fertility clinic to understand more about the connection between epigenetic markers and offspring.
The results of the study were published last Dec. 3 in the journal Cell Metabolism.
