The fat found in fatty fish like salmon is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties.Linda Xiao/New York Times News Service
Infertility – failure to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse – is common and affects 15% of couples.
It is increasingly recognized that nutrition plays an important role in fertility. Some studies have linked improved fertility with certain nutrients and foods.
However, we do not consume food or nutrients in isolation, so it is difficult to translate these findings into dietary advice for couples. The effects of dietary quality on fertility have been investigated.
Now, new research suggests that eating an overall quality diet increases your chances of getting pregnant.
latest research
The study, published in the November issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, looked at the effects of four healthy eating patterns. mediterranean dietU.S. Healthy Eating Index 2010, Danish Dietary Guideline Index, Dietary Inflammation Index (DII) – time to conceive among women not undergoing fertility treatment.
A total of 9,232 participants were enrolled in one of two ongoing pregnancy studies. One was conducted in Denmark and the other in North America. Upon entering each study, each participant completed a detailed dietary questionnaire used to calculate adherence to each dietary pattern.
Overall, the higher the adherence to all dietary patterns, the higher the chances of getting pregnant.
However, the dietary pattern that had the most consistently strong effect in improving time to conception was DII, a dietary pattern designed to minimize inflammation in the body.
In both studies, more anti-inflammatory diet more likely to become pregnant The results were even stronger in obese women and women over the age of 35.
Inflammation has been shown to play an important role in the development of insulin resistance, a condition that affects hormonal function and can interfere with ovulation.
Note that these findings may not apply to the general population, as study participants tended to eat healthier, were less likely to smoke, and had higher levels of education and income. please.
What is the eating pattern of DII?
The DII is a scoring system based on 45 pro- and anti-inflammatory food ingredients. Top contributors of anti-inflammatory effects on the DII score included fiber, magnesium, beta-carotene, vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and polyunsaturated fats (found in foods such as fatty fish, flax, chia seeds, etc.). types of fat). Walnuts, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil.
Other dietary patterns studied also contain anti-inflammatory ingredients, but the DII is unique in that it focuses on how strongly each ingredient affects inflammatory proteins in the bloodstream. .
DII is also the only diet scoring system that includes specific vitamins and minerals. These micronutrients, he included in DII for their anti-inflammatory potential, may also enhance fertility in other important ways.
“pregnancy diet”
Eating a healthy diet has also been shown to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART).
A 2019 study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that women who adhered to a “fertility-enhancing” diet before fertility treatment, compared to other dietary patterns, It turns out that the chances of getting pregnant and giving birth are significantly higher.
Developed by researchers at Harvard University, the fertility-enhancing diet builds on the foods and nutrients that have been linked to positive ART outcomes in previous studies. It is characterized by high intakes of folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D, low-pesticide fruits and vegetables, whole grains, seafood, dairy, and soy foods.
Fertility-enhancing dietary patterns promote fertility by increasing the body’s ability to synthesize and repair DNA, protect cells from free radical damage, reduce inflammation, and regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. It is believed that
There is increasing evidence that optimizing nutrition and diet is important for enhancing fertility in women trying to conceive naturally or using ART. (Eating a healthy diet has also been linked to improved fertility in men.)
In addition to promoting fertility, a nutritious diet is essential for strengthening a woman’s nutrient stores and supplying the necessary building blocks for the development of her baby during pregnancy.
Toronto-based private practice dietician Leslie Beck is Medcan’s Director of Food and Nutrition. follow her on her twitter @LeslieBeckRD
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