Effects of Soya Beans Supplements on Fertility in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Background. Being a cheap source of protein and oil, soya beans (SB) has being important in peoples’ food and in animal’s feeds. However, some of its components pose infertility threats. This makes the decision for its consumption hard. Aim. To determine a safe level, the maximum harmless proportion of food that could be made up by SB is examined in this study. Material and Methods. Twenty-four adult male Wister rats, randomly divided into four groups (of 6 rats each), were used. Group A was the control and were fed growers mash pellets. Group B, C, and D rats were fed derivatives of growers mash containing 8.33 %, 16.67 %, and 25.00 % SB . All treatments were for twelve weeks. Relative epididymal weight, sperm count, morphology, motility, serum testosterone level were determined. The groups were compared using independent sample t-test. Results. The results showed that unlike in rats fed with mash containing large amount of SB, fertility abnormalities were almost entirely absent in the rats fed with the least proportion of soya beans. Therefore, the potential antifertility effect of soya beans used in feeds/foods might be averted if the proportion of the soya used could be lower than 5g per 60g of feed/food. Conclusion. The potential antifertility effect of soya beans used in feeds/foods could be averted if the proportion of the used soya would always be lower than 8.33% of feed/food. Further research for the verification of this study, and for the derivation of a more precise safe level of soya beans are encouraged.