How Low Vitamin D Affects Fertility
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Vitamin D is involved in hormone production, metabolism, bone strength, immune function, brain & mental health, cardiovascular health - everyone needs it! Living in Atlantic Canada brings a high risk of deficiency in the fall and winter months when we are not getting regular doses of sunlight for our bodies to produce natural vitamin D. Arguably many folks aren't building enough during the sunny seasons and the daily recommendation of 1,000 - 2,000 IU daily may not be sufficient enough to correct an existing deficiency or prevent it during the winter months.
Vitamin D is especially important in pregnancy both for the carrier and developing babe. Here is what the research shows:
- 70-97% of Canadians have insufficient vitamin D levels, and 49% of infants had insufficient vitamin D levels at birth. Deficiency was seen in 49% of carriers and 38% of infants at birth 1,3
- Vitamin D is crucial for proper development of the fetal bones and skeletal system, immune system, respiratory system and cardiac tissue. 2
- Correcting deficient levels can improve hormone responsiveness in the uterus, prevent postpartum depression, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and low birth weight 2,4
An important part of the fertility conversation is that equal parts of genetics contribute to conception - it takes two! Vitamin D impacts fertility for both folks with eggs and sperm, so it is important to address deficiency in both cases.
- If you have eggs: Vitamin D is associated with proper egg development, ovulation, and supporting implantation. Low Vitamin D levels are also associated with uterine fibroid development, where supplementation can reduce size to reduce interference with implantation.
- If you have sperm: There are vitamin D receptors in sperm cells and the reproductive tract - deficiency is linked to lower sperm count and higher miscarriage rates because of vitamin D’s influence on sperm development and motility.
Why test? Because the amount required to correct a deficiency varies from person to person. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin meaning that it is stored in our fat cells. Taking too much vitamin D can cause toxicity, because if too much accumulates in the cells it becomes toxic to the body. Don't worry though, this is why we encourage testing to find the right dose for you!
- How to know if you are deficient: the best way is to test your levels, this gives an accurate picture of exactly what dose you need to correct deficiency. We offer Vitamin D testing at inbloom!
Addressing modifiable risk factors for conception & pregnancy such as nutrient deficiencies is one way to improve your likelihood of good outcomes such as conception, pregnancy, and healthy & safe birth. Booking a 1:1 consultation with our naturopathic doctors will help determine your unique needs, and provide a path forward in optimizing your fertility.
In health,
Lauren
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Lauren strives to empower patients in understanding their health, and believes that patient-centered care is an important piece to healthcare. She loves to help connect the dots between how you are feeling and how you want to feel.
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