Prenatal VITAMINS Folic Acid DHA CoQ10 FOR PREGNANCY

While several recent studies focusing on vitamins are beginning to uncover positive correlations between vitamins and fertility MDs still do not definitively know the full extent each vitamin may have on improving or hindering fertility and pregnancy. With continued research we hope to find more concrete links so that answers may be provided. While the jury is still out on the impact of vitamins, here is a review of what MDs believe to potentially be the most promising vitamins for fertility.

Folic acid is a part of the B complex of vitamins. It is essential for many processes within the body including nerve function, the health of red blood cells, and the correct formation of DNA within each cell in the body which allows for normal cell replication. Extensive research has proven folic acid protects against the development of spinal cord birth defects. Spinal cord defects, otherwise known as neural tube defect, affects 0.1-0.2 percent of pregnancies. Folic acid supplementation, started before pregnancy and continued until 6-12 weeks gestation, reduces the rate of spinal cord defects by nearly 75 percent. Because the greatest benefit of folic acid supplementation occurs prior to when many women realize that they are pregnant, folic acid supplementation with 400mcg should be taken by all women who could become pregnant.

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid commonly found in fish oil. It is a major fatty acid in the brain, sperm, and eye. Dietary supplementation with omega-3’s, including DHA, has increased in popularity in recent years. This has resulted in an increase in prenatal vitamins sold containing DHA. It has been suggested that DHA aids in brain development3 and may increase the length of gestation and birth weight. Like many studies looking to link supplements and benefits in fertility or pregnancy the data is conflicting with other studies not showing any benefit. While the studies are conflicting, it is theorized that DHA supplementation may be beneficial to the development of a baby’s brain while still in the womb.

There has been considerable research into the effects of CoQ10 on overall sperm health and egg quality. One study suggested that men using a CoQ10 supplement experienced a significant increase in sperm motility. In another study, men supplementing with CoQ10 daily showed increases in both sperm count and morphology1. Although CoQ10 may improve the semen analysis, an increase in pregnancy rates has not been seen.

A recent promising study2 in mice found an improvement in the egg quality later in their reproductive years suggesting that supplementation of CoQ10 may be able to help overcome the natural decline of a woman’s fertility as she ages. To date there has been no studies completed on the impact of CoQ10 in a woman’s fertility. Further research with women will help to determine if the same impacts can hold true in women of an advanced reproductive age.