The issue of infertility is remarkably prevalent with 186 million people affected worldwide; As cited by Inito there are 27.5 million in India alone and in many situations, whether in a woman, a man or both couples, a thorough medical examination can identify important contributing factors that can benefit from treatment and may require treatment with assisted reproductive technologies. such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, in many cases, no cause of infertility is identified.
A recent study by MDPI’s journal The Nutrients, published at Harvard Medical School, suggests that some of those cases may be related to inflammation. If so, does an anti-inflammatory diet or lifestyle help improve fertility? Many diseases are linked to chronic inflammation, including cancer, stroke, and heart disease.
Despite the fact that its significance in infertility is not fully known, some research suggests a connection:
· Inflammatory diseases such as infections, endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome increase the chances of infertility.
· Systemic (body-wide) inflammation can affect the cervix, uterus and placenta, affecting fertility.
· IVF-assisted infertile women who followed an anti-inflammatory diet had higher pregnancy success rates than those who did not.
Can an anti-inflammatory diet improve fertility?
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Shobha Gupta, medical director and infertility specialist at Mother’s Lap IVF Center in New Delhi said that this is a real possibility. He continued by saying that decades ago, experts noticed that women who followed a fertility diet were more likely to ovulate more frequently and become pregnant.
A 2022 analysis of several studies published in Nutrients suggests that following an anti-inflammatory diet may help those having trouble getting pregnant. Despite the fact that the trial diets were created years apart, they have many things in common.
Although the specific mechanism is unclear, an anti-inflammatory diet may increase the success rate of assisted reproductive techniques such as IVF and improve male sperm quality. The researchers indicated that adopting a healthy diet could also reduce the need for invasive, time-consuming, and expensive fertility procedures.
More high-quality research is needed to support this as the quality of studies and consistency of findings vary. Discussing whether adopting an anti-inflammatory lifestyle improves fertility, Dr. Shobha Gupta said, “Improved heart health is just one of the many benefits of adopting an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, including a plant-based diet. Mediterranean Diet.”
Despite the fascinating nature of the new studies, there is little evidence that an anti-inflammatory strategy can improve fertility. It is unclear whether this is a direct result of reduced inflammation, but there is no danger in this strategy and it may even fight the disease, according to an abundance of convincing data.
An anti-inflammatory lifestyle or lifestyle suggestion, doctors recommend:
· Avoid red meat, highly processed foods, and saturated fat and adopt a diet that promotes healthy fats such as plant-based foods, whole grains, and olive oil.
· Avoid vaping or smoking
· Shed extra pounds
· Engage in some exercise
· Get enough rest
· Manage inflammatory disorders including allergies or rheumatoid arthritis
· Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
· Manage stress
Dr. Shobha Gupta concluded, “It is possible that a misleading diet or lifestyle can contribute to infertility. Inflammation may play an important and unrecognized role in infertility. However, to prove this, we need more evidence. Until we know more, it makes sense to take steps to improve your general health and reduce chronic inflammation.”