What are the best fats for fertility?
Dietary fats make up about 30-40% of daily energy intake in western countries and are essential for hormone production and fertility.
Bad Fats-
Dietary fats make up about 30-40% of daily energy intake in western countries and are essential for hormone production and fertility. High-fat diets are associated with reduced fertility and oocyte development. Trans-fats specifically are associated with ovulatory infertility, endometriosis, and reduced fertility. (1) The impacts are related to transfat’s adverse effects on insulin sensitivity, and inflammation, both of which impact ovulation.
Good Fats-
Good for fertility Multiple studies have shown the positive relationship between omega-3 fatty acids and decreased risk of anovulatory cycles, higher luteal phase levels of progesterone, Improved uterine blood flow, and even reduced FSH levels. (1,23)
Protecting Fats in Ovarian Aging
With increased age and reduce antioxidant system function, we see an increase in reactive oxygen species, which cause damage to lipids in the cellular membranes of follicular oocytes, corpus luteum cells. This damage is associated with reduced fertility and lower success rates with assisted reproductive technology. More importantly, oxidative stress increases the ovarian aging process.
Vitamin C and Vitamin E have both reduce oxidative damage of cellular membranes and improve egg quality, quantity, and ovarian reserve in animal studies. (4)
NAC- also help reduce oxidative stress and in studies has shown to reduce telomere shorting and improve follicular development and early embryonic development. (4)
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