Low-carb and/or low-GI eating, PCOS and Infertility

[Rasputin]

Hey everyone,

This post finds me stepping a bit afield of what has been researched so far. As I continue to examine the studies, the pieces are beginning to come together for me.

It is starting to look like a surprising number of infertility problems are due to an imbalance of insulin and its effects on a cascade of other hormones, as well as the types and amounts of fats in one's diet.

There have been conclusions drawn from existing studies which were not designed to test this hypothesis, per se, and so can be difficult to know for certain the causality at work.

Here's a rundown:

1. PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) is a cause of many infertility problems. It is caused by an imbalance of sex hormones, and it has been shown to strongly respond to a Paleo-LC way of eating with reasonably high protein, high natural fats (including sat. fats) and low carbs, especially lower-GI carbs (vegetables instead of potatoes, grains and sugars).

2. Insulin Resistance (metabolic syndrome, Syndrome X, etc) has been implicated in many infertility problems, and the fact that Metformin (Glucophage) has been shown to increase fertility in a good number of cases, especially in overweight women, tells us that the problem is most likely caused by too many carbohydrates in the diet, especially high-GI carbs.

3. Many also report an improvement in fertility from exercise, which has been shown to moderate blood sugar levels and the resulting insulin surges. This seems to be independent of actual weight loss, which would follow if it were related to insulin resistance.

4. It would not surprise me if glycation were somehow at work here as well, although this has not yet been tested. It is already being shown to adversely affect many of the body's systems by rendering proteins (including enzymes) throughout the body unable to perform their jobs.


So, until studies are done which specifically address this possibility, evidence has shown that eliminating high-GI foods and/or limiting carb consumption entirely, avoiding trans-fats (and, I would suggest, polyunsat fats), and getting regular exercise will increase fertility levels.


Your thoughts?

[DragonMind]

Men, generally, aren't interested in fertility but availability.

[Rasputin]

It's a good point, although I happen to know that as our population ages into the 30s, more and more of us old married folk are looking to procreate instead of simply recreating. Some make it into their mid-30s without having any luck doing so, which is why I think this information is important.

[DragonMind]

It's a good point, although I happen to know that as our population ages into the 30s, more and more of us old married folk are looking to procreate instead of simply recreating. Some make it into their mid-30s without having any luck doing so, which is why I think this information is important.

The secret, however, is to skip kids and have grandkids. All the fun with none of the heartache. Then we can just focus on R&R, or I&I for old Marines... :laugh:

[Vagabond]

Eating low Carbohydrates can have seriously adverse health effects though. Glucose, which is what carbohydrates are turned to via insulin in the blood is actually the only form of energy that can be used by the majority of your body, especially the brain. If glucose is lacking, the body will trigger a release of hormones that starts the process of Gluconeogenisis. Simply put creating glucose from amino acids (protein) and Triglycerides (fat). This seems all good right, we want to burn fat. The reason this diet can be dangerous, I believe, is that gluconeogenisis is similar to burning crude oil in your car, it creates a lot of toxic bi-products, that your liver has to work extra hard to clear up. Your liver will already be working hard and transforming the excess fat into triglycerides, a process that must occur for it to be turned to glucose to be burned, and the proteins.

So although signs show that this diet might help infertility, it could very well crap out one's liver, not to mention if rigirous exercise is not in place, and possibly even if it is, the heart can take a beating with clogged veins and arteries, as well as high cholesterol. If one were to undertake this diet I would suggest going easy on the saturated fat, and eating more vegetable products. This is because animal products contain cholesterol, and quite often saturated fat.

[Rasputin]

Gluconeogenesis produces no "toxic by-products". I and tens of thousands of other people living on <50g or less carbs a day are proof positive. We have been designed to burn a wide variety of fuels; it just turns out that burning primarily carbohydrate for energy is not what we were meant to do for the majority of the year.

And if you still think that dietary cholesterol and saturated fat is bad for you, you have a lot of catching up to do. Turns out that it was all a big, fat myth.

Virtually everything you posted is based on myth, not scientific fact. Might I suggest reading:

http://www.amazon.com/Fat-Cholesterol-are-Good-You/dp/919755538X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273080023&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Genocide-Your-Doctors-Dietary-Ignorance/dp/1419685821/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273080038&sr=1-8

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Calories-Bad-Controversial-Science/dp/1400033462/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273080055&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Vegetarian-Myth-Food-Justice-Sustainability/dp/1604860804/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273080085&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Know-Your-Fats-Understanding-Cholesterol/dp/0967812607/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273080121&sr=1-2

[Vagabond]

Well, what I posted was what I learned in my Human Physiology class.

Metabolic Processing of Nutrients (with Regards to the Liver)
Following a meal the liver converts some of the absorbes glucose to glycogen, and some absorbed amino acids to fatty acids; the liver also synthesized triglycerides and cholesterol and uses them to synthesize lipoprotein particles, which it then secretes to the blood stream. During periods in which nutrients are not being absorbed, the liver converts glycogen to glucose and fatty acids to ketones(by-product). It also produces glucose by gluconeogenesis and synthesizes urea from ammonia, which is generated as a by-product if amino acid catabolism.

This is a direct quote Pg 579 Principles of Human Physiology 3rd Edition Stanfield and Germann

The catabolism (Break Down) produces NH3 which is Ammonia, extremeley toxic to the body. The Liver then converts this into Urea. I am not saying it is bad to do this, but I am saying that being too restrictive can cause problems on the liver. Everything in moderation yeah?

[Rasputin]

1. Ketosis is a benign state which most people experience every night by the time the eat their first meal of the day. It is totally natural, and indeed (pre)historically was a huge source of energy for humans most of the year when fruits were not in season. Your body will gladly substitute ketone bodies in place of 20% of the required glucose in the body, indeed, the heart and brain function more efficiently when running on ketones.

2. The urea is not a problem because the liver is designed to cope with this. It is part of its natural functioning. Removing all the fructose form the diet gives the liver plenty of extra overhead to process the urea which is left over from gluconeogenesis. All that I have read has shown that high levels of protein and/or ammonia are not a problem unless the liver is compromised through disease or genetics beforehand.

3. Not everything in moderation--moderation is a qualification, not a quantification. It depends on your frame of reference. If you believe, as I do, that Humans are the product of millions of years of evolution, during which vegetable oils, grains and modern fruits were not present in their diet, then adding them in any amount is adding more than we were designed to handle.

4. There are still native populations in the world which exist on scant plant matter all year long, relying on animal meat and fat for their diet and living with no liver or kidney problems to show for it. True, they eat the WHOLE animal, which I do not, but that's why they invented vitamins.


The big problem is Dogma. If you read GCBC you will find out how a small group of scientists and politicians decided to vilify fat and cholesterol without proof or valid data and they sold that to the American people. Out of that came the Food Pyramid and all of the mainstream avoidance of animal fats/proteins, along with the glorification of "whole grains" and vegetable oils as food sources. Once you find that out, you can begin to understand why your Human Physiology course would attempt to steer you towards a plant-based diet instead of an animal-based one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8WA5wcaHp4


I really need to make a sticky thread.

[Jay Bell]

Patrick,

I'd urge you to watch the entire documentary, "Fathead"...from the clip above.

[Vagabond]

Alright I can by that. Especially after watching Food INC. I learned how much the FDA controlled by the companies. A lot of the snacky cakes, and treats we consume in our society so eagerly are carbs, so it would be in the best interest of the controlling parties to suggest that carbohydrates are good for us. I do know of several cultures that live off of predominately animal meat, and are very healthy. I would like to point out that these are wild game though. They do not live sedentary life styles. Do you think maybe that they contain less saturated fat? Saturated fat is directly linked to heart disease this I am sure of. I will post no further until I have read your suggested literature. It will be a while though, I am strapped for cash, and in college, no time to read a lot.

[Jay Bell]

Do you think maybe that they contain less saturated fat? Saturated fat is directly linked to heart disease this I am sure of.

How sure are you? :)

[Webmaster]

How sure are you? :)
Just a touch late to the conversation isn't he? Perhaps someone should point him at some of the previous threads on the topic (or use the search function) :)

[Rasputin]

Yeah, we're past Saturated Fat. Recent studies have shown that there is no link between saturated fat and heart disease. In fact, SFA raises HDL. The latest model for heart disease is an inflammatory one. Inflammation begins in the arterial wall, with many possible causes:

Infection
Physical stress at junctures
Hyperinsulinemia
Hyperglycemia
Oxidized fats
Glycation
Free Radicals
Stress Hormones
Hypertension

At any rate, once a lesion forms, the body forms a plaque in the area to patch the damage and allow it to heal. Oxidized cholesterol in small, dense LDL particles on the way back to the liver to be recycled can find itself lodged within the arterial wall and the plaque itself, and over time this can build up large enough to block off the blood flow.

Cholesterol isn't the cause of heart disease, it is one of the body's repair mechanisms at work. That cholesterol got oxidized in the first place because it happens to be a potent antioxidant, mopping up oxidative radicals in the blood stream before they cause damage elsewhere.

Saturated fat isn't the culprit--it raises HDL, allowing more damaged fats to flow back to the liver to be recycled.

Read the information I sent you attached to the email. Keep both hands on your hat because it is going to blow your mind.

[Rasputin]

http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/low-carb-gynecologist.html


MF: Yes, five years ago, as more information regarding Polycystic Ovarian Disease or Syndrome (PCOD/S) and its relationship to insulin resistance (high insulin levels) was emerging, we had a simple realization. As we've known for some time, insulin stimulates excess male hormone levels in the ovary, which disrupts ovulation and fertility. Then our job was to lower or virtually eliminate high insulin levels. Again, in simple fashion, we looked at physiology and realized that insulin is released only in response to dietary carbohydrates. Thus, elimination of carbohydrates should resolve the problem. This, in fact, is the effect that we have seen.



WD: Do you see any other changes in these patients on the diet?

MF: Yes. All metabolic parameters, as well as many common complaints, improve. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels improve, while "good" HDL cholesterol levels increase. Weight drops at a pace of 12 lbs per month very steadily and we have many many patients who have experienced 50lb wt loss. Blood pressure decreases steadily in these patients and we are often able to get them off of cholesterol and blood pressure medicines. Common symptoms such as anxiety, sleep disturbances, decreased energy, migraine headaches and depression all dramatically improve. Again we can often get patients off depression and migraine suppression medications. So this approach helps in a multitude of areas.