London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Does your diet affect your fertility?

Does your diet affect your fertility?

Can the right foods really improve your chances of having a baby? Here are the facts.

Visit any online fertility chat room, and one of the main topics of debate will probably be what to eat to maximise your chances of conceiving. In addition to the wealth of supplements promoted as being fertility-boosting, there is also an array of foods that are supposed to help achieve a healthy pregnancy.

Amid all the myths and marketing, what is the actual evidence for using certain foods to enhance male and female fertility, and support the developing fetus?

For a start, when it comes to supporting a healthy pregnancy and fetus, certain nutrients really can make a difference – such as folic acid. When taken before and during pregnancy, it has been shown to help prevent both anencephaly, a birth defect of the baby's brain, and spina bifida, which affects the baby's spine.

Because these defects develop very early in the pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all women of reproductive age take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid each day. Fortifying staple foods such as cereals with folic acid may offer even more powerful protection, because many pregnancies are unplanned. It is estimated that, in 2019, effective fortification programmes prevented 22% of potential cases of folic-acid-preventable spina bifida and anencephaly, worldwide.

Folic acid may have an additional benefit: when taken as a supplement by women trying to conceive, it may increase the chance of getting pregnant, though there is a need for further trials to confirm this.

What about other foods and supplements? Is there such a thing as a "fertility diet" that will maximise your chances of conceiving?

Diet can affect male fertility, research suggests


A study of couples undergoing IVF found that men's meat consumption, and especially the type of meat they ate, affected the outcome


To answer that question, it helps to break down the main reasons for infertility. In the United States, after one year of having unprotected sex, 15% of couples are unable to conceive. There are many potential causes. On the female side, the ovaries may be unable to produce healthy eggs, or the egg may not be able to move from the ovaries to the womb – for example, due to blocked fallopian tubes. Even if the egg makes that journey successfully, it may then not attach to the lining of the womb, or not survive once it has attached.

On the male side, the quality of sperm cells is crucial for fertility. This includes their ability to move efficiently (motility), their shape and size (morphology), and how many there are in a given quantity of semen (sperm count). A range of factors can threaten sperm quality, including environmental problems such as pollution (read BBC Future's report on the global decline in sperm quality). Even after tests, the cause of infertility may not always be clear: about 15% of infertility cases remain unexplained.

While no individual food or supplement will be a quick fix for any of these potential issues, experts say diet can play a beneficial role throughout the process of trying to conceive and beyond.

Most obviously, being well-nourished is crucial. The consequences of malnutrition can be devastating for prenatal health.

Arguably the best-known findings in this area come from a study of babies conceived during the so-called "Dutch Hunger Winter" of 1944; an eight-month famine that occurred when the Nazis cut off food supplies into the Netherlands at the end of World War II. The mothers-to-be were surviving on only 400 calories a day, a fraction of the intake necessary for a healthy pregnancy. The babies conceived during that time faced a range of adverse health consequences, including being shorter and thinner than those born before or after them, and having smaller heads. As adults, they had higher rates of obesity, diabetes and schizophrenia, and tended to die younger.

For those who do have access to sufficient food, it is still important to obtain the right mix of nutrients. While discussions around beneficial foods often focus on female fertility, there has been a growing awareness of how diet can also affect male fertility.

A 2015 study of couples undergoing IVF found that men's meat consumption, and especially the type of meat they ate, affected the outcome, as measured by fertilization rates. Eating more poultry had a positive impact on fertilisation rates, whereas eating processed meat (such as bacon and sausages) had a negative impact. Men who ate the least processed meats, averaging fewer than 1.5 servings a week, had an 82% chance of achieving pregnancy with their partner – while men who ate the most processed meats, with an average of 4.3 servings a week, had just a 54% chance.

Even after conception, the father's diet may indirectly affect the unborn child.

A study led by researchers at The University of Queensland in Australia has shown that what fathers eat has a lasting effect on the future health of their unborn children. The team analysed dietary data from almost 200 couples receiving antenatal care at Australia's largest maternity hospital, the Mater Mothers' Hospital in Brisbane. The study found that the men's dietary intake strongly influenced that of the women, and that in turn impacted the developing baby. Other studies suggest that a father's weight can have an intergenerational effect, influencing the weight of the child.

"Men's health and nutrition for fertility is overlooked, but it is so important," says Shelley Wilkinson, a dietician who was one of the authors of the University of Queensland study and now works at Lifestyle Maternity, a private clinic in Australia that specialises in fertility support. "It can actually impact their grandchildren's health."

Wilkinson also highlights the importance of tackling any changes as a couple. "If one person is meeting the dietary guidelines, the other person is more likely to be as well," she says. "We should be focusing on supporting women as well as men to make healthy changes. Otherwise, we're losing half the battle."

One beneficial change can be to increase the amount of fat in the couple's diet – as long as it's the right kind of fat. Healthy fats are found in nuts, seeds, salmon, avocado and olive oil. However, trans fatty acids – which can come from natural or industrial sources, and are for example found in margarine, doughnuts, fried food and other processed food – are associated with a higher risk of infertility.

A diet rich in plants may also be beneficial. Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health assessed the diets of a group of 18,555 women over eight years, as they attempted a pregnancy or became pregnant. Consuming plant-based protein like legumes, instead of animal-based proteins like red meat, was associated with a more than 50% lower risk of ovulatory infertility, they found.

We need to support women as well as men to make healthy changes. Otherwise, we're losing half the battle – Shelley Wilkinson


The authors of a 2021 review of research on the possible link between diet and female fertility concluded that, while their recommendations focused on women, "diet and nutritional patterns are undoubtedly significant for both male and female fertility".

The researchers gave a detailed overview of the effects of individual nutrients and the foods that contain them. They also emphasised the importance of involving a clinical dietician in the care of couples planning a pregnancy. Broadly speaking, their summary recommended foods such as vegetables, fruit, whole-grain pasta and whole-grain bread (for carbohydrates); sources of healthy fat such as oily fish; and legumes, eggs and lean meat for protein. They also pointed out the important role of certain nutrients that may sometimes be overlooked: these include iodine, which helps the proper development of the fetus and the expectant mother's thyroid function.

For alcohol, the advice is clear and consistent across the research. The CDC states: "there is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant." This goes for all types of alcohol, including all wines and beer. The advice is to avoid it altogether.

If you have any concerns or questions about your diet and how it might affect your fertility, the best step is to consult your healthcare provider. And while certain foods do appear to play a positive role in fertility, it's important not to overstate their power. Infertility is complex, as are its cause. Worrying over one's diet can cause unnecessary stress as well as feelings of guilt and shame. Those struggling to conceive can rest assured that the problem is unlikely to be rooted in one specific thing they did or did not eat.

Wilkinson says that people with fertility issues are often searching for a single fertility-promoting food – but it is better to aim for an overall healthy eating pattern. "In the fertility chat rooms, there's a lot of talk about pineapple being some kind of magic fertility food for if you're trying to fall pregnant. However, there is no single food or supplement that works like that."

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Comments

Dr. Shawn Pourgol, MBA, DC, DO, DN, PhD 13 days ago
Healthy life, happy life!

Newsletter

Related Articles

London Daily
Close
0:00
0:00
Drone Attack on Moscow's Wealthiest Neighborhoods Suspected to be Launched by Ukraine
You Are So Beautiful
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to Hold Power Talks with President Biden in Washington
Postmodern Jukebox European Tour Version
AI ‘extinction’ should be same priority as nuclear war – experts
An old French tune (by Georges Brassens) Pomplamoose ft. John Schroeder
Elon Musk Meets Chinese Finance Minister in Beijing
Sattahip Motor Show 20
Prominent Hacker Forum RaidForums Suffers Substantial Data Breach
SONATE AU CLAIR DE LUNE - Moonlight sonata
Climate cultists thought they had sabotaged another beautiful event — then the cameraman had his revenge.
A kiss to build a dream on
Nvidia CEO Huang says firms, individuals without AI expertise will be left behind
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
WPP Revolutionizes Advertising with NVIDIA's AI Powerhouse
Mean Blues
Two US Employees Fired For Chasing Robbers Out Of Store As They Broke ''Company Policy''
La Chansonnette
Pfizer, the EU, and disappearing ink - Smoke, Mirrors, and the Billion-Dose Pfizer Vaccine Deal: EU's 'Open Secret
Pattaya Addicts
Actor Tom Hanks told Harvard University graduates to be superheroes in their defense of truth and American ideals, and to resist those who twist the truth for their own gain
Franz Liszt - Liebestraum - Love Dream
The Sussexes' Royal Rebound: Could Harry and Meghan Markle Return to the UK?
Dream a little dream of me
A provocative study suggests: Left-Wing Extremism and its Unsettling Connection to Psychopathy and Narcissism
Unchained Melody sung like you've NEVER heard!
France Arrests 10 on Suspicion of Failing to Respond in Time to Migrant Drowning
Dave Brubeck - Take Five
Neuralink Receives FDA Approval for First-in-Human Clinical Study
Édith Piaf - Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien (Sofie)
Ukrainian Intelligence Official Admits to Assassination Attempts on Putin
Rondo Alla Turca
WATCH THIS: democracy in Russia is so bad!
Kiss of fire
Ed Davey: It is possible for a woman to have a penis
Tom Jones - I´ll Never Fall In Love Again 1967, 1989, 2001
Bernard Arnault Loses $11.2 Billion in One Day as Investors Fear Slowdown in US Growth Will Reduce Demand for Luxury Products
Israel Cachao López - Guajira Clásica
Russian’s Wagner Group leader: “I am not a chef, I am a butcher. Russia is in danger of a revolution like in 1917.”
Edward Maya - Stereo Love (feat. Vika Jigulina) (Extended Mix)
TikTok Sues Montana Over Law Banning the App
Strauss - Radetzky March - Karajan
Ron DeSantis Jumps Into 2024 Presidential Race, Setting Up Showdown With Trump
La vie en rose
Steve Jobs introducing Apple's iPhone, exactly 16 years ago.
The Temptations - My Girl (Smokey Robinson Tribute) 2006 Kennedy Cent
Banking Behemoth vs Ex-Boss: The PMorgan-Epstein Entanglement
Orlando Cachaito Lopez Redencion
China overtakes Japan as world's top car exporter
Edith Piaf - NON, JE NE REGRETTE RIEN
Banking Behemoth vs Ex-Boss: The PMorgan-Epstein Entanglement
RADETZKY MARCH-2008-Wien, New Year Concert
Elon Musk's SpaceX and Italy's Unipol join forces to help Italians hit by flooding
Only you (And you alone)
Talks between US House Republicans and President Biden's Democratic administration on raising the federal government's $31.4tn debt ceiling have paused
Strangers In The Night
Biden Administration Eyeing High-Profile Visits to China: The Biden Administration is heating things up by looking into setting up a series of top-level visits to Beijing by top officials in the coming months
Charles Aznavour - La Boheme
New evidence in special counsel probe may undercut Trump’s claim documents he took were automatically declassified
Summer time
A French court of appeals confirmed former President Nicolas Sarkozy's three-year jail term for corruption and influence peddling
Sting and Stevie Wonder - Fragile (from Sting's 60th birthday concert)
Debt Ceiling Crises Have Unleashed Political Chaos
Aux Champs Elysees
Weibao Wang, a former software engineer at Apple, was charged with stealing trade secrets related to autonomous systems, including self-driving cars
Stand By Me - Ben E. King (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Mobile phone giant Vodafone to cut 11,000 jobs globally over three years as new boss says its performance not good enough
La Mer (Beyond the Sea) – Avalon Jazz Band
Elon Musk compares George Soros to Magneto, the supervillain from the Marvel Comics series.
She
Warren Buffett Sells TSMC Shares Over Concerns About Taiwan's Stability
Nathalie Song by Enzo Petrachi Stjepan Hauser Cello
New Study Finds That Secondary Bacterial Pneumonia Is a Major Cause of Death in COVID-19 Patients Who Require Ventilator Assistance
Shape of My Heart - Sting (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Vienna: Passenger Plays Hitler Speeches on Train, Causes Panic
Radiohead - Creep
Remarkable video from our Fox drone team
Quizás,Quizás,Quizás - Andrea Bocelli - Jennifer Lopez
The official tapes of Trump's deposition in the E. Jean Carroll battery (rape) and defamation case have been released.
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps - Multi-Couples
Here is the full video that the media are purposely not sharing
Pentatonix Havana
King Charles III being crowned.
Paula Cole - Autumn Leaves
Newly released video of Donald Trump’s rape trial deposition:
Oscar Benton Bensonhurst Blues
Video: Ukraine MP Punches Russian Representative At Global Meet
OH NANANA vs ABUSADAMENTE
Russia accused Ukraine of attacking the Kremlin with drones in an attempt to kill Putin
Nina Simone - ”I Put A Spell On You”. Vezi aici cum cântă Jeremy Ragsd
Ahead of King Charles’ coronation, British guards rehearse in the middle of the night in London
NIGHTWISH - The Phantom Of The Opera
Dutch court orders man who fathered 550 kids to stop donating sperm
Motorshow 2016 Tanjay Negros Oriental
Kim Kardashian Lookalike Christina Ashten Dies Of Cardiac Arrest, Hours After Plastic Surgery
Monica Bellucci - Ti Amo
Samsung has banned employees from using generative AI services such as ChatGPT
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean Milena The Voice France 2018
'Godfather Of AI' Geoffrey Hinton Quits Google To Warn Of The Tech's Dangers
Michael Buble (Help Me Make It Through The Night) feat Loren Allred
Memories Canon In D - Maroon 5 (Boyce Avenue piano acoustic cover)
Matteo Simoni - Marina
Maroon 5 - One More Night
Maroon 5 - Memories
Mark Knopfler - Brothers In Arms (Berlin 2007 Live)
Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris - Romeo And Juliet (Real Live Roadrunni
Marina, Marina - The LUCKY DUCKIES intimist live concert at Guimarães
Major Lazer & DJ Snake – Lean On Mauranne The Voice France 2016
Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet - Joslin - Henri Mancini, Nino Rota
LoLa & Hauser - Love Story
Linkin Park Jay-Z - Numb Encore (Live 8 2005)
Hallelujah Mennel Ibtissem, The Voice France Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen - Dance Me to the End of Love
Leonard Cohen & Natasha Rostova - Dance me to the end of love
La casa de papel - Bella Ciao
La Camisa Negra
L'italiano (Toto Cutugno) - The Gypsy Queens
Juanes - La Camisa Negra
Jonathan and Charlotte - Britain's Got Talent 2012 Live Semi Final - U
John Powell - Assassin's Tango
Joe Cocker - You Can Leave Your Hat On (LIVE in Dortmund)
Joe Cocker - Unchain My Heart 2002 Live
Joe Cocker - A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Jay Z & Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind LIVE
Jason Mraz - Im Yours (live)
Jarrod Radnich - Bohemian Rhapsody - Virtuosic Piano Solo
James Blunt - You're Beautiful
James Blunt - You're Beautiful & Bonfire Heart (Live at The Nobel Peac)
If You Go Away - Helen Merrill & Stan Getz (Tribute to Virna Lisi)
I'LL BE MISSING YOU
I Say a Little Prayer
Hotel California ( Eagles ) 1994 Live
Historia de un amor - Luz Casal. Vezi interpretarea Biancăi Sumanariu
Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover) on Spot
Heart - Stairway to Heaven Led Zeppelin - Kennedy Center Honors
HAVANA by Camila Cabello Zumba Pre Cooldown TML Crew Kramer Pastra
HAUSER and Señorita - I Will Always Love You
HAUSER - Waka Waka
HAUSER - Sway
HAUSER - Lambada
HAUSER - Historia de un Amor
HAUSER - Despacito
Great Pretender
Georgia May Foote & Giovanni Pernice Samba to 'Volare' - Strictly Come
Gary Moore - Still Got The Blues
GIPSY KINGS VOLARE Penelope Cruz
Fugees - Killing Me Softly With His Song
French Latino - Historia de un Amor
For A Few Dollars More The Danish National Symphony Orchestra (Live)
Flashdance • What a Feeling • Irene Cara
Filip Rudan - “Someone You Loved” Audicija 4 The Voice Hrvatska Sez
Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight
Enya - Only Time
Enrique Iglesias - Bailando (English Version) ft. Sean Paul
Enrique Iglesias - Bailamos
Elena Yerevan Historia de un amor
Ed Sheeran - Shape of You (Official Music Video)
Ed Sheeran - Perfect Symphony [with Andrea Bocelli]
Ed Sheeran - Perfect (Official Music Video)
Easy On Me - Adele (Boyce Avenue 90’s style piano acoustic cover) on S
ERA - Ameno
ELENA YEREVAN- Cancion Del Mariachi-IN STUDIO-2017 DPR
Dust In The Wind - Kansas (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Despacito x Shape Of You - Pentatonix
Deep Purple - Child In Time - Live (1970)
David Foster When A Man Loves A WomanIt's A Mans World (SealMichael Bo
Dance me to the end of Love ( Pi-Air Design )
Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise (feat. L.V.) [Official Music Video]
Conquest Of Paradise (Vangelis), played on Böhm Emporio organ
Cielito Lindo
Chico & The Gypsies - Bamboleo
Canción Del Mariachi - Antonio Banderas, Los Lobos • Desperado
Camila Cabello - Havana (Audio) ft. Young Thug
Camila Cabello - Havana ( cover by J.Fla )
California Dreamin' - The Mamas & The Papas José Feliciano (Boyce Ave
Buster Benton - Money Is The Name of The Game
Hallelujah Pentatonix
Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy (Official Music Video)
Bob Dylan - Knockin' On Heaven's Door Emilia The Voice Kids France
Besame Mucho - Cesaria Evora
Ben E. King - Stand by Me Sax Cover Alexandra Ilieva Thomann
Bella Ciao
Bella Ciao - INSTRUMENTAL
Beautiful in White x Canon in D (Piano Cover by Riyandi Kusuma)
Bad Romance - Vintage 1920's Gatsby Style Lady Gaga Cover ft. Ariana Savalas & Sarah Reich(1)
BELLA CIAO 2020 - KARAOKE ITALIANO
BAMBOLEO - Gipsy Kings • Antonio Banderas, Katya Virshilas
BAILANDO (original)
Awesome Ukrainian yodeler - SOFIA SHKIDCHENKO (with English subtitles)
Avicii - The Nights
Atom - The Great Gig in the Sky
Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Official Ly
Antonio Banderas - Cancion del Mariachi (Desperado)
André Rieu - Zorba's Dance (Sirtaki)
André Rieu - Can't Help Falling In Love
André Rieu & Mirusia - Ave Maria
Andrew Reyes Elton John - Don't Let The Sun Go Down The Voice 2020 (
Andreas Kümmert Whiter Shade Of Pale The Voice of Germany 2013 Showd
And I Love You So
All About That Bass - Postmodern Jukebox European Tour Version
Alan Walker - Faded (Piano Cover)
Ain't No Sunshine -- Bill Withers (cover by Canen 12 y.o.)
African music
Adriana Vidović - “Creep” Audicija 4 The Voice Hrvatska Sezona 3
Adriana Vidović - “Believer” Nokaut 3 The Voice Hrvatska Sezona 3
A Fistful of Dollars - The Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Tuva
4 Beautiful Soundtracks Relaxing Piano [10min]
2CELLOS - Whole Lotta Love vs. Beethoven 5th Symphony [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
2CELLOS - Smooth Criminal (Live at Suntory Hall, Tokyo)
2CELLOS - Smells Like Teen Spirit [Live at Sydney Opera House]
2CELLOS - Despacito [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
13 Year Old Girl Playing Il Silenzio (The Silence) - André Rieu
094.All About That Bass
00 - SADNESS PART 1
(Ghost) Riders In the Sky (American Outlaws Live at Nassau Coliseum, 1
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams (Boyce Avenue ft. Conn
What a wonderful world
Moon river
×