Egg Quality and Antioxidants; why Acai berries may provide another key to achieve a successful pregnancy in women with a history of poor egg quality

An important aspect of “lifestyle medicine” is helping our patients take control of the factors of their daily routine that may tip them towards a higher pregnancy rate. Toward that end, one of important determining factors of egg quality has to do with whether not the egg has been damaged prior to fertilization. So let’s consider what causes egg damage and what we can do to prevent it.

Each egg that you have has been waiting since you were an infant for the opportunity to grow and develop. During the years that the eggs remain dormant, they are very susceptible to adverse conditions. For instance, small charged particles called free radicals can damage the proteins, membranes and the DNA within the eggs. These free radicals are formed normally as a result of physiologic processes like digestion and ovulation. However, there are lifestyle situations like tobacco use or over-eating that can promote free radical formation.  Additionally, conditions like endometriosis are believed to impair fertility at least partially due to the increase in the production of free radicals. A recent review  detailed how eggs that have been damaged by free radicals have a lower capacity to produce a successful pregnancy.

Your body makes chemicals called antioxidants whose purpose is to be there to capture and neutralize free radicals when they are formed. Since free radicals only exist for an instant, it is important that these antioxidants are always around. Unfortunately, most of us don’t make enough of these little protectors. That’s why foods that contain antioxidants are believed to be so healthful. Not only can they provide us with these chemicals that we need but they can do so when they would be most useful—during digestion. There is evidence that berries of the Acai—a palm tree grown primarily in northern Brazil—may be able to tip the delicate balance in your favor and therefore protect your ovaries from damage.

Studies suggest that Acai berries may contain more antioxidants than blueberries, raspberries or any other potent natural antioxidants. Additionally, the juice contains healthy omega-3 fatty acids suggesting that this may be another means by which it may provide health benefits. To date, one on-going study suggested that women that had failed IVF due to poor egg quality; had an improved outcome after taking an Acai supplement prior to their next attempt. The two to three months prior to an egg’s release represent the time when it is most susceptible to harm. Therefore if you have a low ovarian reserve and/or a history of poor egg quality; you should consider taking an Acai Supplement. A convenient dosing schedule is 1000 mg taken twice each day. There are various supplements available or you can try consuming Acai products two to three times each day as part of a healthy diet. I find the Sambazon products (http://www.sambazon.com/products ) to be diverse and very appealing because they are organic and sustainably harvested.

[r1]Link to http://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(14)02371-1/fulltext