Fertility and Nutrigenomics

Written By Simone Goulding

Fertility is influenced by a variety of factors, including age, genetics, lifestyle, hormones, anatomy, medical conditions and the environment. However, there is growing evidence that nutrition plays an important role in fertility outcomes.

Nutrigenomics is a rapidly growing field that explores the relationship between nutrition and genetics. The field of nutrigenomics is based on the premise that genetic variations can influence the way our bodies respond to certain nutrients, which can affect overall health and disease risk.

In recent years, researchers have started to explore the connection between nutrigenomics and fertility, and there is evidence to suggest that certain dietary factors may be able to improve fertility outcomes.

Nutrigenomics may be able to help improve fertility outcomes by identifying personal genetic variations that can impact fertility. Some of these genetic variations include:

  • MTHFR: (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) This gene affects folate metabolism which is important for DNA synthesis, hormone synthesis and methylation. MTHFR genetic variations have been linked to miscarriage, increased risk of preeclampsia, increased risk of male infertility, reduced egg quality and reduced ovarian reserves.

  • FADS1: (fatty acid desaturase 1) is a gene that encodes an enzyme involved in the metabolism of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Variations in the FADS1 gene have been associated with altered LC-PUFA metabolism, particularly in individuals with a low dietary intake of these fatty acids. LC-PUFAs play a crucial role in reproductive health, particularly in the development and function of the female reproductive system. Omega-3 fatty acids, in particular, have been associated with improved fertility outcomes in women, including increased ovulation, improved egg quality, and decreased risk of endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome.

  • VDR: the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) is involved in the metabolism and action of vitamin D. Research suggests that variations in the VDR gene may impact fertility outcomes through their effects on vitamin D metabolism and function. For example, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that women with variations in the VDR gene had lower levels of vitamin D and were more likely to experience infertility due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common cause of female infertility. In men, variations in the VDR gene may also impact fertility outcomes through their effects on semen quality and sperm function. A study published in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation found that men with variations in the VDR gene had lower sperm concentrations and motility.

  • BCMO1 is a gene that is involved in the conversion of dietary beta-carotene to vitamin A. Variations in this gene, particularly the R267S SNP, have been associated with decreased beta-carotene conversion efficiency and lower circulating vitamin A levels. Vitamin A is needed for egg development, fertilisation, transport and implantation as well as foetal development. Low vitamin A status has also been associated with decreased sperm motility.

Other genetic variations that may influence fertility include detoxification genes, inflammation genes and genes which affect B12, choline, oestrogen metabolism, thyroid and oxidative stress.

In summary, there is growing evidence to suggest that nutrigenomics may be able to help improve fertility outcomes by identifying genetic variations that can impact fertility and by providing personalized nutrition recommendations based on an individual's genetic profile. Just remember that genetics is only one part of the equation and other factors need to be also addressed.

Please contact me if you would like more information or if you would like to make an appointment to optimise your fertility.

 

References:

Gong, M., Dong, W., He, T., Shi, Z., Huang, G., Ren, R., Huang, S., Qiu, S., & Yuan, R. (2015). MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism increases the male infertility risk: a meta-analysis involving 26 studies. PloS one, 10(3), e0121147. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0121147

Kohil, A., Chouliaras, S., Alabduljabbar, S., Lakshmanan, A. P., Ahmed, S. H., Awwad, J., & Terranegra, A. (2022). Female infertility and diet, is there a role for a personalized nutritional approach in assisted reproductive technologies? A Narrative Review. Frontiers in nutrition, 9, 927972. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.927972

Lerchbaum E, Obermayer-Pietsch B. Vitamin D and fertility: a systematic review. Eur J Endocrinol. 2012 May;166(5):765-78. doi: 10.1530/EJE-11-0984. Epub 2012 Jan 24. PMID: 22275473.

Lu, Y. J., Li, Q., Chen, L. X., Tian, T., Kang, J., Hao, Y. X., Zhou, J. S., Wang, Y. Y., Yan, L. Y., Li, R., Chang, L., & Qiao, J. (2022). Association between maternal MTHFR C677T/A1298C combination polymorphisms and IVF/ICSI outcomes: a retrospective cohort study. Human reproduction open, 2023(1), hoac055. https://doi.org/10.1093/hropen/hoac055

Vanderhout, S. M., Rastegar Panah, M., Garcia-Bailo, B., Grace-Farfaglia, P., Samsel, K., Dockray, J., Jarvi, K., & El-Sohemy, A. (2021). Nutrition, genetic variation and male fertility. Translational andrology and urology, 10(3), 1410–1431. https://doi.org/10.21037/tau-20-592

Várbíró, S., Takács, I., Tűű, L., Nas, K., Sziva, R. E., Hetthéssy, J. R., & Török, M. (2022). Effects of Vitamin D on Fertility, Pregnancy and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-A Review. Nutrients, 14(8), 1649. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14081649

Xu, Y., Ban, Y., Ran, L., Yu, Y., Zhai, S., Sun, Z., ... & Hu, L. (2019). Relationship between unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss and 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) polymorphisms. Fertility and sterility, 111(3), 597-603. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0015028218322064


Simone Goulding
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The Importance of vitamin D