Nutrition-therapy in the Management of Infertility

Apart from aging, smoking, consumption of caffeine and alcohol, stress, agonist sports, chronic exposure to environmental pollutants, and other nutritional habits which are most often non-modifiable have detrimental effect on both man and woman’s fertility. Specifically, metabolic disorders such as diabetes, obesity and hyperlipidemia usually associated with the intake of excess calorie have been reported to have direct and indirect effect on fertility by causing damage to the health and differentiation of oocyte/spermatocyte and interference with the pituitary-hypothalamic axis respectively, which consequently lead to dysfunctional oogenesis/spermatogenesis. Obese women have lower insulin sensitivity, resulting in prolonged hyperinsulinemia, which may play a role in the development of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Thus, reduction in insulin secretion which could be brought about by dietary adjustments remain an effective non-pharmacological treatment to prevent infertility, and a Mediterranean diet aimed at maintaining normal body mass could be effective in promoting ovarian health and physiology. since oxidative stress have been implicated in defective oocyte/spermatocyte maturation, a proper intake of antioxidants and methyl-donor supplements (1-Carbon Cycle) may decline the toxic oxidants bioavailability and this could ultimately promote the maturation of the oocyte and the spermatocyte.