Women with type 2 diabetes may struggle to conceive, study suggests
For many women, the greatest aspiration they have in life is to become a mother. However, new evidence suggests that individuals who have type 2 and continue eating unhealthy diets may have a harder time conceiving than most women.
A team of European researchers found that a diet rich in saturated fat - the type eaten by many women with type 2 diabetes - causes fatty acids to accumulate in the ovaries. This causes damage to the eggs that may decrease a woman's fertility.
In testing on cows, the researchers found that females fed a high-fat diet produced eggs that had fewer cells when fertilized. Additionally, the eggs had altered gene expression that produced a number of abnormalities, which decreased the odds that it would successfully be fertilized.
In particular, the eggs were shown to have metabolic problems. Roger Sturmey, a University of Hull researcher who participated in the study, said normal embryo cells will metabolize amino acids at a lower rate. However, this was not the case with eggs produced during consumption of a high-fat diet.
"Where eggs were exposed to high levels of fatty acids, the resulting embryos showed increased amino acid metabolism and altered consumption of oxygen, glucose and lactate - all of which indicates impaired metabolic regulation and reduced viability," he said.
All this is not to suggest that women with type 2 diabetes will be unable to conceive. The researchers said it simply means that individuals should follow all recommendations for improving health before trying to become pregnant.
If a woman with type 2 diabetes improves her diet and tries to lose some extra pounds before becoming pregnant, she may be more successful in her attempts.
A team of European researchers found that a diet rich in saturated fat - the type eaten by many women with type 2 diabetes - causes fatty acids to accumulate in the ovaries. This causes damage to the eggs that may decrease a woman's fertility.
In testing on cows, the researchers found that females fed a high-fat diet produced eggs that had fewer cells when fertilized. Additionally, the eggs had altered gene expression that produced a number of abnormalities, which decreased the odds that it would successfully be fertilized.
In particular, the eggs were shown to have metabolic problems. Roger Sturmey, a University of Hull researcher who participated in the study, said normal embryo cells will metabolize amino acids at a lower rate. However, this was not the case with eggs produced during consumption of a high-fat diet.
"Where eggs were exposed to high levels of fatty acids, the resulting embryos showed increased amino acid metabolism and altered consumption of oxygen, glucose and lactate - all of which indicates impaired metabolic regulation and reduced viability," he said.
All this is not to suggest that women with type 2 diabetes will be unable to conceive. The researchers said it simply means that individuals should follow all recommendations for improving health before trying to become pregnant.
If a woman with type 2 diabetes improves her diet and tries to lose some extra pounds before becoming pregnant, she may be more successful in her attempts.
First published on: August 19, 2011
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