A recent study reported at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) annual meeting in Berlin, suggest that women trying to conceive should avoid 'low carbohydrate' regimes such as the Atkins diet, which feature high amounts of protein and fats.
The researchers studied embryos grown in the laboratory, produced by mice fed by a diet containing either 25 or 14 per cent protein for four weeks. They found that the high protein diet appeared to disrupt a process called genomic imprinting: the switching off of certain genes in the early embryo, according to whether they are inherited from the mother or father. The diet also affected the ability of the embryos to implant in the womb and the development of the fetus.
However, in our opinion, this study has a major flaw: mice are herbavores. Herbavores presumably do not digest and metabolize high amounts of protein very well. It is also well established that improper protein metabolism can create toxic byproducts that presumably could affect the conception process.
Therefore, for studying the effects of high protein diets in humans, using mice is not a very good model. Checking the conception rates on tigers on a high protein diet would probably have a very different outcome.
Despite the flaws of the study, there is other evidence to suggest that limiting protein during the menstrual cycle, when trying to conceive and during pregnancy may indeed have beneficial effects.
Researchers who studied ancient hunter gatherer societies found that some of these societies limited the consumption of high protein sources during pregnancy. For example, women in the Aranda society in
Australia are not allowed to eat
protein rich foods until they have a child. Hum Ecol. 1989 Sep;17(3):321-45
While the scientific evidence for limiting protein intake is rather weak, it could possibly have some merit. Early hunter gatherer societies may have instituted protein intake restrictions based on many years of observation and so it is certainly worth considering.
In our practice, we find through testing that different people respond to different fuel mixes, and it would be reasonable to assume that some people may be negatively impacted by higher protein diets, while others may actually benefit from them.
In our opinion, prudence would dictate not applying extreme diets of any sort (Atkins, etc.) while you are trying to conceive or during pregnancy. High protein diets are well known to produce toxic byproducts such as ketones that simple common sense would caution against during pregnancy.
As with all things, balance is probably the best approach.
If you have any questions about your diet or what types of foods may be most appropriate for you, please read about metabolic typing or feel free to contact us.
