WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Study indicates high-protein diets may reduce fertility

Study indicates high-protein diets may reduce fertility

(National) June 29, 2004 - It may help trim the waistline, but a new study suggests the high-protein, low-carb craze may hurt a woman's chance of having a baby.

The study in mice found animals who ate a moderately high protein diet produced fewer embryos compared to the animals on a normal diet. And, the embryos produced by the high protein mice were less likely to develop.

Researchers say it appears the extra protein disrupts genes linked to growth and development. They note that these early results suggest the possibility of a protein-infertility link in humans but say more studies are needed.

The high protein mice ate a diet that was 25 percent protein, compared to the control group that received a diet with 14 percent protein. The study found the extra protein affected levels of the compound ammonium in the reproductive tract which impacted genes linked to embryonic development. There have been similar findings in cows.

The research was led by Dr. David Gardner, the scientific director of the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine in Englewood and was presented at the 20th Annual Conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

posted 12:22pm by Chris Rees