High Protein Diet Can Cause Female Infertility - 07/07/2007
A new study has found that female mice fed a diet high in protein had higher than average levels of ammonium in their reproductive tracts, a finding which could have negative implications for the ability of women who consume a high protein diet to conceive.
Previous studies have shown that ammonium hinders the embryo from attaching to the womb in mice, and also delays the development of mouse embryos. High ammonium levels also have a negative effect on the gene development of embryos.
The study, conducted at the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Englewood, Colorado, also found that ammonium levels in the oviduct, where the embryo forms, was four times higher than in mice on a regular diet.
The findings suggest that high protein diets, such as the Atkins diet, may have a similarly negative effect on female fertility in humans, and researchers are encouraging women to consume a well-balanced preconception diet. However, the researchers noted that mice, which are herbivores, may have a different tolerance level for ammonium compared with meat-eating animals.
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