What is Fertility for Women – Pro conception?

This formula is specifically designed to provide the essential and appropriate nutrients to support a woman of reproductive age. The nutrients within this formula provide antioxidant support, help stabilise glycaemic control, and help promote appropriate cellular function to encourage female fertility.
Ideally, this formula should be taken at least 90 days ahead of planned conception.

Why take Folic Acid?

• Folate and vitamin B12 are both vital components needed for synthesis of DNA, cysteine, methionine and the transfer of RNA. Therefore, during the peri-conceptional period when there is rapid cell growth, requirements for these nutrients are enhanced.
  Women are recommended to supplement with folic acid during pre-conception to prevent neural tube defects (NTDs). Evidence that peri-conceptional folic acid supplementation can significantly reduce the prevalence of NTDs was supported by a study conducted in China over a 2-year period among women preparing for marriage. The risk of NTDs among fetuses decreased by between 50-80% for women taking a folic acid supplement more than 80% of the time1. This was further confirmed by a randomized control trial conducted over 7 countries which resulted in a significant reduction of NTD cases in those supplementing with 400ug of folic acid. A recent study examined the relationship between timing and duration of folic acid supplementation in achieving ideal folate levels for the prevention of NTDs. Woman who were taking folic acid 400ug at least 4-8 weeks before conceiving, established optimum levels of folate in the blood.

  Evidence has also identified an important role for folic acid in improving the likelihood of reproductive success. Follicular fluid folate levels have been associated with 3-fold greater odds of becoming pregnant among woman undergoing assisted reproduction. A prospective study conducted in the US, found that women undergoing infertility treatment and pre-treated with supplemental folic acid at 800ug or above, were more likely to have a live birth. Whilst, Vitamin B12 intake was also positively associated with live birth rates after assisted reproduction. Similar results were obtained in a small RCT, of sub fertile women who took a multivitamin (containing 400μg of folic acid) for 3 months, 26% had a pregnancy compared with 10% of women in the placebo group.

• Why take DHA ?

• Docosapentaenoic acid (DHA) is an important omega 3 fatty acid crucial for cellular health and hormonal regulation. DHA is a long highly unsaturated fatty acid chain (HUFA) known to improve the synthesis of prostaglandins (PG). Improving the ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 is known to improve prostaglandin function and reduce the inflammatory process. In a North America cohort, women in the lowest quartile of omega-3 PUFA intake had lower fecundability than women in the other quartiles8. Increased levels of DHA independently, was associated with a reduced risk of anovulation in a cohort of healthy regularly menstruating women, with similar inverse trends for the other long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. A 2011 meta-analysis indicated an increase in mean gestational age and birth weight, and a decrease in the number of infants born prior to 37 weeks’ gestation in mothers receiving w-3 LCPUFA supplementation during pregnancy.

  Neural tissues in the brain and retina are rich in structural DHA and it is vital that an adequate supply of the unsaturated fatty acid is laid down and available before and during pregnancy, for baby development. In an environment that provides little preformed DHA and a high ratio of dietary n-6 to n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, maternal supplementing with DHA during pregnancy is important for DHA transfer to the foetus. There have been numerous observational studies that link maternal DHA status or intake during pregnancy, to a variety of positive developmental outcomes in the offspring.

• A prospective controlled observational trial involving 72 poor responders to IVF was divided in to group A: patients taking myo-inositol and folic acid or group B: women only taking folic acid, 3 months prior to IVF. Results found significantly lower FSH units and significantly higher rate of developing oocytes in group A compared with group B. Furthermore, the ovarian sensitivity index was higher in those pre-treated with myo-inositol, showing an improvement in ovarian sensitivity to gonadotropin.

• VITAMIN E- Alpha tocopherol is the most biologically active from of vitamin E for conception, its name comes from the Greek words tokos which means ‘offspring’ and phero ‘to bear’20. This powerful plant-derived, lipid soluble antioxidant is essential for fertility and reproduction, by maintaining ovary health and improving regulation of hormone activity. Low levels of vitamin E have been identified in infertile women with endometriosis and increased levels of lipid peroxidation.

• VITAMIN D - Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin involved in the homeostasis of calcium and phosphorus and promotion of bone mineralization. It also regulates cell differentiation, proliferation and growth, these actions are medicated through vitamin D receptors (VDR). There is a presence of VDR within the reproductive tissues of women, suggesting a possible role in the reproductive process. VDRs are expressed in the ovaries, placenta and endometrium. A cohort study of 132 women identified a positive association between total vitamin D intake and chance of conceiving a clinical pregnancy. There were a significantly higher number of pregnancies and live births among women who met the vitamin D RDA and with sufficient serum levels21.

  Low maternal levels of vitamin D have been associated with early-onset, severe pre-eclampsia (EOSPE), and clinical data has suggested a potential reduced risk of preeclampsia with only 10-ng/mL increase in maternal 25(OH)D (storage form of vitamin D in the body). A study observed that patients with EOSPE and a small for gestational age (SGA) fetus had significantly lower serum (33% reduced) vitamin D

ALPHA LIPOIC ACID - Alpha-lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant in all human cells. It assists in chelating heavy metals, minimizing risk of cellular damage, and regenerating other antioxidants—

vitamins C and E, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and glutathione15.

Ageing women supplemented with alpha lipoic acid for 60-90 days before treatment of controlled ovarian stimulation and IVF. Results found an increased number of mature oocytes and good quality embryos, which resulted in a higher pregnancy

• IRON - Iron is required for red blood cell formation, transport of oxygen to tissues, nucleic acid metabolism and acting as a cofactor for many enzyme reactions. Iron deficiency and anemia during pregnancy increase the risk of premature birth, and are associated with low birth weight together with delayed maturation, and low cognitive and motor capacity of the child. Iron supplements preconception have been proven to lower risk of ovulatory infertility and improve fetal motor development. The beneficial effect of supplementing with iron prior and during pregnancy has been well documented. A prospective study of 82 healthy women intending to get pregnant found that early iron supplementation improves biochemical status of the mother and newborn birth weight, in those who started pregnancy with iron deficiency.

  
  

• IODINE - During pregnancy, thyroid function alters as a result of metabolic demands and hormonal changes. Iodine is a nutrient required by the thyroid to produce thyroid hormones. The need for iodine increases substantially during pregnancy due to a 50% rise in thyroid hormone production and an increase in renal excretion of iodine. Therefore, supplementing with iodine prior to conception can help a mother establish substantial levels of iodine in preparation for pregnancy.

• SELENIUM - Reduced fertility in women has been linked to insufficient body saturation with selenium. One mechanism behind this could be the role selenium plays as a co-factor for antioxidant enzymes, which are responsible for neutralization, elimination and prevention of reactive oxygen species.

thyroid hormones are essential in regulating the development of the fetal brain and nervous system including the creation and growth of nerve cells, the formation of synapses, which are required for communication between nerve cells, and myelination, which is the formation of a fat-based layer that allows for fast communication between nerve cells.

Dosage: 2 capsules daily with food or as recommended by a practitioner. Once pregnancy has been confirmed, switch to Viridians Pregnancy Complex capsules.

Potential applications:

To provide nutritional support for pre-conceptual health and well-being. This formula provides nutritional support which can function within an integrated (mind/body) approach to supporting cases of infertility.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Once pregnancy has been confirmed, move on to the Pregnancy for Women. Drug Interactions: Zinc supplements, particularly on an empty stomach can cause a feeling of slight nausea

therefore take alongside a meal.

Ingredients

FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY

Related products:

Organic Scandinavian Rainbow Trout Fish Oil, Organic Golden Flaxseed Oil, Vega EPA and DHA, Organic Folic Acid, Synerbio Daily.

Updated January 2018

Useful links – it is recommended to eliminate saturated and hydrogenated fatty acids and increase the intake of high quality polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly omega 3 fatty acids, as these oils function in all aspects of reproductive health.
The herb vitex agnus castus has been used in the treatment of many female conditions, including menstrual disorders (amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), corpus luteum insufficiency, hyperprolactinaemia, infertility, acne, menopause and disrupted lactation.

Note: Coeliac women may suffer from gynaecological and obstetric complications. It is possible that these complications are the first symptom of coeliac disease. Silent coeliac disease should be considered in the case of women with unexplained infertility.