Nutritional Support for IVF

The preconception period continues to gain recognition as an ideal opportunity to optimise the health of the prospective parents. It is well understood that a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition influences the quality of egg and sperm and thereby increases the chances of a successful pregnancy. Likewise nutritional support is essential during IVF cycles to ensure healthy embryonic development.

Recent data from national health surveys indicate that the general population’s nutritional intake is suboptimal and virtually everyone suffers to some extent from deficiencies of essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

A preconception Mediterranean-type diet has been associated with increased success of achieving pregnancy among couples undergoing IVF. This diet is characterised by a high intake of vegetables and good quality vegetable oils, fish, nuts, legumes and low intake of dairy and snacks. A Dutch study showed couples with a high adherence to this diet had a 40% increased chance of pregnancy after embryo transfer.
In comparison, the Western dietary pattern is characterized by a high intake of red and processed meats, high-fat foods, refined grains, and high-sugar drinks and desserts, and is relatively low in fruits, vegetables, whole-grain foods, poultry, and fish. This diet has been shown in animal studies to be detrimental to fertility.

Some important nutrients in the Mediterranean-type diet that may mediate the benefits during IVF include:

B vitamins

• Poor B-vitamin status is associated with early pregnancy loss. The early embryo requires folate to reduce risk of neural tube defects. Availability of B vitamins during the period immediately preceding egg recovery may affect embryo viability after IVF. There is also a positive association between folate intake and sperm quality.
• Food sources: Avocado, Brewer’s yeast, rice bran, oatbran, dark leafy greens (collard greens, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, spinach and turnip greens), sunflower seeds, legumes, lentils, mushrooms, wholegrains

Vitamin D

• Higher levels of vitamin D in body are directly related to vitamin D levels in follicular fluid of egg which are associated with improved ovarian response to ovarian hyperstimulation, high quality embryos, improved implantation and pregnancy rates.
• Food sources: Eggs, fatty fish, butter and cod liver oil. You can also get vitamin D from sitting out in the sun for 10 to 50 minutes per day 4-6 times per week. But absorption is impacted by the darkness of your skin.

Essential Fatty Acids:

• Omega-3 acids have shown benefit on fertility outcome by improving egg quality and their subsequent development into competent embryos. They also help to regulate hormones in the body, increase cervical mucous, decrease miscarriage risk and regulate anti-inflammatory action in the ovulatory cycle and implantation process during IVF.
• Food sources: Flax seeds, walnuts, salmon, sardines, snapper, trout, whiting.

Antioxidants: (vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, selenium, CoQ10, alpha lipoic acid)
Anti-oxidants have many roles to play during IVF. They manage oxidative stress and reduce impact of reactive oxygen species (ROS), provide gentle detoxification and support gonadal DNA integrity.

• IVF procedures such as sperm preparation and embryo medium may increase ROS and oxidative stress
• Oxidative stress impacts sperm-egg interaction and implantation
• ROS may affect egg maturation, development of the embryo, and implantation
• Zinc is important for ovulation and a recent animal study has shown a positive association with high zinc levels and the increased development of blastocyst in IVF
• High antioxidant dietary intake has been associated with higher sperm numbers, motility and quality
• Food Sources: Colourful fruits and vegetables. Some of the fruits highest in antioxidants are plums, pomegranates, blueberries and strawberries. Eat a rainbow of foods everyday.

For more information see our Diet for Conceiving Well on our website www.fertilityhealth.com.au and for information & support with IVF call the clinic on 9976 5466.