One common myth that persists in some fertility circles is the belief that nutrition has no impact on egg quality. This misconception suggests that the quality of a woman’s eggs is predetermined and unchangeable, yet this is not the case. Emerging research in this area shows that diet, lifestyle, and metabolic health can play a significant role in improving egg quality. This includes factors such as nutrient intake, blood sugar levels, thyroid function, and levels of inflammation.
When we think about egg quality, we must think first about metabolic health. That’s because a human egg cell has more mitochondria than any other type of cell. These tiny organelles are the energy-producing “batteries” of our cells. Mitochondrial health underpins our metabolic health.
To get a better understanding of how essential mitochondria are for the health and functioning of every cell in our body, let’s consider the numbers. Every cell in the body contains anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand mitochondria, and they collectively produce more than 90% of the body’s energy. With anywhere from 100,000 to 600,000 mitochondria, each egg cell contains more than any other cell in the body.
Issues with mitochondrial function underscore a variety of chronic health and metabolic issues as well as fertility challenges. Mitochondria regulate the development of egg cells in preparation for ovulation (called folliculogenesis), fertilisation, implantation, the development and growth of the human embryo (embryogenesis), and the development of the placenta. Note: mitochondria also play an essential role in sperm health and ability to fertilise the egg.
Numerous nutrients play a role in egg, quality, much of which is explained by their impact on mitochondrial function. You can read more about the importance of nutrients in my book How to Have a Healthy baby.
Many research studies in the realm of assisted reproductive technology specifically focus on supplementing with some of these nutrients (or boosting dietary intake) to help improve the chances of success with procedures like IVF. There are also studies showing that dietary intake of certain nutrients or foods — full-fat dairy and organ meats being two examples — may help support egg quality (as evidenced by higher AMH levels) in women who consume these foods.
This just scratches the surface of the research available on supporting and improving egg quality. But suffice it to say, if someone tells you that diet and nutrition has no impact on egg quality, I can assure you that they are misinformed.
