News

29th June 2004

High-protein diets could hinder conception

Scientists have discovered that the controversial Atkins diet, high in both fat and protein, could reduce a woman's chance of becoming pregnant.

Scientists presented their findings yesterday at the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology in Berlin. Although their research is preliminary, and carried out on animals, the scientists firmly believe that a diet that contains at least 25% protein disrupts the healthy development of embryos, making it harder for them to attach themselves to the womb.

The diet, which has found both fame an infamy, either bans or severely restricts the intake of carbohydrates (such as flour, rice and potatoes) in favour of fat, vegetables and animal protein.

Although the investigations for this study were carried out on mice, not humans, the scientist in charge, Dr David Gardner, director of the Colorado centre for reproductive medicine, thinks their data '… may have implications for diet and reproduction in humans.'

Dr Gardner and his colleagues fed mice on a diet containing either 25 per cent protein or 14 per cent protein for four weeks, before mating the mice. Forty-two of the newly fertilised embryos were removed and studied. Another 174 embryos from both groups were transferred to healthy surrogate mothers. The scientists discovered that only 36% of embryos from mothers on a high protein diet showed a normal imprinting pattern, compared with 70% from the normal protein group. The study also showed that embryos from mothers on the mouse version of Atkins were less likely to develop healthily in their surrogate mothers.

These findings will be of interest and concern to any couples trying to conceive, especially if the woman is trying to shed a few extra pounds before pregnancy. '… it would be prudent,' says Dr Gardner, '… to advise couples trying to conceive, either naturally or via assisted reproductive treatment, to ensure that the woman's protein intake is less than 20% of her total energy consumption. The available data certainly indicates that a high protein diet is not advisable while trying to conceive.'

• Trying for a baby? Find out more about getting into the best shape possible.
• Have you been on the Atkins diet and trying to get pregnant? Share your feelings in Discuss, Debate and Deliberate