What vitamins can help with childbearing?
Do vitamins help to get pregnant? Although there is no known proven “fertility vitamin,” it makes sense for women who want to have children to make sure they have an adequate supply of vitamins (as well as other nutrients) before they become pregnant. This is because deficiency symptoms can reduce the chance of becoming pregnant.
Particularly important vitamins in the desire to have children
Some vitamins play a special role in the desire to have children. In addition to vitamin C, vitamin E and various B vitamins, these are primarily folic acid and vitamin D. Vitamin A, on the other hand, should only be taken in moderation before pregnancy and in the first weeks of pregnancy.
Folic acid
To prepare for pregnancy, experts recommend taking more folic acid at least one month before a possible conception. Specifically, women who want to have children should take 400 micrograms of folate daily.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency can hinder the desire to have children. According to studies, the chance of pregnancy is about four times higher in women with sufficient vitamin D levels than in women who have too little.
Caution with vitamin A
What should the diet be like if you want to have children?
The following applies to both women and men who wish to have children: A balanced diet according to the recommendations of the German Society for Nutrition ensures an adequate supply of most of the nutrients necessary for health and thus also for fertility.
- Fish should be on the menu once or twice a week.
- Meat and sausage, on the other hand, should be eaten as rarely as possible – as should foods that contain a lot of fat and/or sugar, and industrially processed products.
- Vegetable fats should be preferred to animal fats, for example rapeseed oil for frying food.
Recent studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids may be helpful in childbearing by increasing female fertility. In addition, the intake of these fatty acids, which are mainly found in plant foods, may possibly improve the success of artificial insemination (in vitro fertilization). However, there is no final clarity on this relationship – further studies are needed.
Being underweight can reduce the chance of pregnancy in women, as the body then does not have enough reserves to supply the maturing child. It automatically switches to the economy mode, which has a negative effect on fertility. In men, underweight can impair testicular function and thus the ability to conceive.
Important minerals in the desire to have children
A balanced, varied and plant-based diet, as described above, provides not only vitamins but also many minerals (bulk elements such as calcium and trace elements such as iron). They are also important for fertility. If you are trying to have children, for example, these substances are critical:
Iron
Calcium
Among other things, calcium is important for muscle and bone formation – not only in the woman herself, but also in the unborn child in the event of pregnancy. Women over the age of 18 should consume 1,000 milligrams per day.
Iodine
In Germany and Austria, the recommended daily dose for women (and men) up to 50 years of age is 200 micrograms, in Switzerland 150 micrograms. During pregnancy, women should consume 230 micrograms (Germany and Austria) or 200 micrograms (Switzerland) daily.
Selenium
Selenium plays an important role in the development of the brain structures and nerve tracts of the embryo. For optimal supply, women should consume 60 micrograms per day.
Not only women should pay attention to their supply of vitamins and other nutrients if they wish to have children – this is also advisable for men. This is because some nutrients are indispensable for male fertility, for example by affecting the number and quality of sperm. These include above all zinc, calcium and magnesium. If men want to have children, they should therefore make sure they have an adequate supply of these substances.
- minimum 11 and maximum 16 mg of zinc per day
- 1,000 mg calcium per day (for men 19 years and older)
- 350 mg magnesium per day
What dietary supplements can help with childbearing?
In addition, for micronutrients for which there is a widespread undersupply or for which studies suggest positive effects in pre-pregnancy, targeted substitution can be useful even before pregnancy. This applies, for example, to the B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D and E, selenium, zinc, magnesium and calcium.
Talk to the doctor beforehand
Consultation with your doctor also ensures that you do not take excessive doses of vitamins and minerals – and thus potentially cause unpleasant or dangerous side effects.
Yam root, pomegranate juice, turmeric and co. – helpful when trying to have children?
Pomegranate juice, which is commonly regarded as an aphrodisiac, is also said to be beneficial for those who wish to have children, by having a positive effect on fertility. So far, however, there is no scientific evidence for this. Without question, however, the juice of the exotic fruit is healthy, because it provides, among other things, a lot of vitamin C.
