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Vitamin B9 (folic acid) and its relationship to fertility
- One of the most important and important B vitamins for fertility as well as for fetal health is folic acid or vitamin B9.
- Folic acid is very vital for the fertility of both men and women.
- Low levels of folic acid in the blood resulting from low intake either in food or as a dietary supplement related to a birth defect in the neural tube known as spina bifida.
- Research has shown that taking folic acid in good quantities may affect the level of progesterone, and low levels of folic acid may lead to irregular ovulation, which affects fertility.
- Low levels of folic acid are also related to poor sperm health. Research has also suggested that people with low levels of folic acid have a higher percentage of sperm damaged by DNA. Supplementing folic acid with zinc may also help improve semen analysis results in some cases.
Folate VS Folic acid
- Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9 that is found naturally in many types of foods such as lentils, chickpeas, dark green leafy vegetables, asparagus, as well as cauliflower.
- Folic acid is the synthetic form of vitamin B9. When you take folic acid supplements, the body converts folic acid into folate or it won’t be able to benefit from it.
- You can get a supplement that contains folate instead of folic acid, but it is less common. They are also usually expensive. But folate is the best form of folic acid supplements.
- Folic acid supplementation may also cover low vitamin B12.
- Some people may have a genetic problem that makes their cells unable to absorb folic acid. They are more likely to have a miscarriage or have children with a neural tube defect.
Vitamin C and its relationship to fertility
- Vitamin C or C is found naturally in fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits, peppers, as well as berries.
- This vitamin helps maintain healthy connective tissues and is an important component for wound healing and the immune system.
- Vitamin C is also one of the most important and powerful antioxidants, which plays a major role in fertility.
- Antioxidants reduce the negative effect of free radicals, thereby reducing damage and destruction of body cells.
- Vitamin C and vitamin E are usually mixed for their antioxidant effect.
- Vitamin C improves sperm health and reduces the fragmentation of nuclear animal DNA.
- In one study of women undergoing IVF, vitamin C supplementation did not improve oxidative stress, but they did raise levels of vitamin C in follicular fluid, which improves egg quality.
Calcium and vitamin D and their relationship to fertility
- We all know the importance of the mineral calcium for bone health. But we probably don’t know that it also plays a role in heart health, muscle function, neurotransmitters, as well as hormonal balance.
- Research published in 2013 found that women who consumed a large amount of dairy products that were high in calcium and fortified with vitamin D were less likely to develop endometriosis and less likely to have ovulation problems as well.
- But it is not yet known whether calcium supplements have the same effect on female fertility.
- There is also a relationship between calcium and vitamin D fertility in men. It is believed that calcium deficiency may negatively affect sperm motility.
- Both the male or female reproductive systems contain receptors for vitamin D as well as enzymes that break it down. This led scientists and researchers to believe that vitamin D may be necessary for the fertility of both.
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