Cambridge Nutritional Sciences

Food Intolerance and InFertIlItY

The problem of infertility affects a growing number of couples. Why is it that future parents cannot succeed in getting pregnant? Why is it that the longer we postpone having children, our chances for healthy offspring are reduced? Can inappropriate diet be responsible for infertility?

A Phenomenon of InfertilityInfertility is defined as failure to get pregnant after 12 months of spontaneous sexual intercourse without the use of contraceptives. In fertility clinics, there are a growing number of couples without any evident obstacles for conception, yet failing to conceive.

Why is it that subfertility is observed in so many marriages? The answer is simple: infertility is the often result of our modern lifestyles, with late attempts to get pregnant and improper diet. Living in a rush, stress, absorbing professional life, contraception and delaying the decision to have a child, make us forget about health consequences and reduced chances for having a baby.

However, the biological clock is running. The more we delay, the more junk food we eat and the more diseases accumulate in our system. We have to understand that infertility is most often a result of chronic disease. Their diagnosis and appropriate therapy allows the restoration of normal function of the reproductive system.

Diet and FertilityMuch is discussed lately about the effect of unhealthy diet on fertility and the development of chronic symptoms/conditions that had not previously been associated with diet. These are often diseases with an immunological background, including autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto disease), insulin resistance, hyperprolactaemia, polycystic ovaries and many more. As food constitutes the most important antigenic challenge for the immunological system, this is of little surprise.

Unfortunately, the immunological system is usually overloaded with consumed food (food antigens) and recognises them

as foe (food allergens). Although the scientists claim that a balanced diet is crucial for infertility treatment, no miraculous fertility diet has been invented so far. In fact, medicine has not yet stated clearly if food intolerance is associated with fertility problems. Furthermore, the problem of various diseases originating from non-tolerated food is not widely discussed in medicinal practice. From an immunological point of view, it is a miracle that humans are able to survive eating the modern, highly processed (hyperallergenic) food.

Food Intolerance in InfertilityFood intolerance constitutes an important aspect in infertility diagnostics and therapy. Until recently, the term “food intolerance” was used to describe a reaction to food not mediated by the immunological system. However, food intolerance is now also used to describe an abnormal reaction involving the immunological system and specific IgG class antibodies.

Immunotoxins – immunological complexes of IgG antibodies and fragments of food proteins – have an unfavourable effect on the functioning of the body. Long-term consumption of non-tolerated food (usually due to a lack of awareness about the intolerance), induces inflammation, both systemic or localised, and accounts for the development of various chronic diseases and, consequently, infertility.

One of the available methods of treating infertility and other chronic disorders, is avoiding harmful food. This method is referred to as an elimination diet and is developed based on food intolerance tests, e.g. Food Detective™ or FoodPrint® IgG antibody tests available from Cambridge Nutritional Sciences (www.camnutri.com).

Recently, results of investigations into food-specific IgG antibodies completed in one of the leading fertility clinics in Poland (in cooperation with foreign fertility clinics), allowed the development and introduction of a complex nutritional program based on immunological and non-immunological dietary support. The program involves optimisation of nutrition with consideration to those food products that:

8 increase the natural anti-oxidative potential

8 reduce inflammation by eliminating non-tolerant foods based on identification of food-specific IgG antibody levels

Reproductive functions are associated with a large energy expenditure, therefore, mechanisms associated with food intake regulation and nutritional status are particularly important for fertility. A correctly developed elimination diet will not only improve the digestive and absorptive functions of the gastrointestinal tract, but will also reduce allergic and immunological reactions and support fertility treatment.