Mediterranean diet promotes fertility in assisted pregnancies

The positive effects of the Mediterranean diet on in vitro fertilization

A new Greek study has found that the Mediterranean diet can have a positive effect on women's fertility. Research has shown that women who follow a Mediterranean diet for six months prior to assisted reproductive treatment have significantly better chances of conceiving. The chances of giving birth to the baby were greater than those of women who did not.

The researchers found that a healthy diet of fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, fish and olive oil and low red meat is 65 to 68 percent more likely to become pregnant during in vitro fertilization (IVF) in women Compared to women who do not adhere to a healthy dietary pattern like the Mediterranean diet. The study was published in the journal "Human Reproduction" of the Oxford Acacademic Journals.

New research shows that a healthy dietary pattern like the Mediterranean diet improves the chances of a successful assisted pregnancy. (Photo: exclusive-design / fotolia.com)

244 women were examined for nutritional patterns

The scientists evaluated the diet of 244 women enrolling for a first IVF treatment in Athens. Depending on the diet, the researchers gave the women a rating of between 0 and 55. The higher this so-called MedDiet score was, the more the diet of each woman corresponded to the principle of the Mediterranean diet. All women in the study were between 22 and 41 years old and had a body mass index of less than 30. The women were then divided into three groups depending on the value.

The stricter the Mediterranean diet the higher the chance of pregnancy

The group of women with the highest MedDiet score consisted of 86 women, of whom 50 percent became pregnant during the first IVF treatment. In the group with the lowest score, which consisted of 79 women, only 29 percent became pregnant. The percentage of live births was also higher in the group with the highest MedDiet score. Researchers in women under the age of 35 found that every five-point improvement in the MedDiet score was approximately 2.7 times more likely to be successful in pregnancy and live birth.

Healthy nutritional patterns can increase fertility

Out of the 244 women, 104 achieved a clinical pregnancy, of which 99 gave birth to a live baby. Most of these mothers were eating according to the principles of the Mediterranean diet. "The important message from our study is that women seeking to become pregnant should be encouraged to eat healthily," study leader Professor Yiannakouris summarizes in a press release on the study findings. Maintaining a healthy nutritional pattern, such as the Mediterranean Diet, can increase the chances of a successful pregnancy and the successful birth of a living baby.

In men, healthy eating is just as important

"The diet and lifestyle of men is as important as women," notes Yiannakouris. Previous work by his team would suggest that adherence to the Mediterranean diet can help improve the quality of sperm.

The results are not universal

The researchers warn that their results can not be generalized. They point out that their results show that a Mediterranean diet is associated with improved IVF outcomes. This does not mean, however, that a Mediterranean diet entails a general improvement in the chances of pregnancy and childbirth. "Our results show that couples undergoing infertility treatment can benefit from the Mediterranean diet," says Yiannakouris. Clearly more research and intervention studies are needed to examine the role of nutrition in reproductive performance.

The Mediterranean diet is making headlines

Just recently, a team from the German Institute of Human Nutrition in a scientific study compared eight diets to examine which diet was best for people with type 2 diabetes. The researchers came to the conclusion that the Mediterranean diet is a good and healthy way to positively influence the sugar metabolism. (Vb)