We all know that a healthy diet is important for the growth and development of an egg, sperm, and embryo. The Shawkea USA team is excited to present you with a ground-breaking research study that sheds more light on the importance of a healthy diet. 

What did the research find?

Recent research showed that when measuring the fatty acid (FA) composition in the oocytes of women who underwent IVF/ICSI, it was found that the composition of FA in the oocytes from normal-weight women differed from that of overweight women, and oocytes from women who are overweight have less omega-3 fatty acids compared with oocytes from women with a normal weight. The FA composition of the oocytes from women who are overweight could be related to the poor IVF outcome in these women.

How was the research done?

922 oocytes from 205 women undergoing IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were included in the study. The unfertilized and the immature oocytes from the women who underwent IVF/ICSI were subjected to FA analysis with capillary gas chromatography. Based on their body mass index (BMI), women in this study were classified as normal (BMI 18.5-24.9), overweight (BMI 25-29.9), or obese (BMI>=30). Oocytes were analyzed separately based on their maturity level (germinal vesicle oocytes, metaphase I oocytes, and unfertilized metaphase II oocytes).

Why does this matter?

The research team measured the composition of fatty acids in the blood and follicular fluid, the environment around the oocyte, and found that the higher the proportion of omega-3 fatty acids, the better embryo quality, and treatment results.

Please know that this study is not only focused on the fatty acids (FA) composition in the oocyte environment but also focused on the FA composition of the oocyte itself. This is ground-breaking information and bring more interesting discussions.

Fat is not only an important energy source for the body but also structural components of cells. The nature and function of each fatty acid (FA) are different, and the ratio of different types of fatty acids affects tissue function. The human body can synthesize most of the types of fat it needs from other fats or raw materials. However, that isn’t the case for omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These fatty acids must be acquired from the food we ingest. Foods high in Omega-3 include fish, vegetable oils, nuts (especially walnuts), flax seeds, flaxseed oil, and leafy vegetables.

Perhaps this oocyte study mentioned above is not about the direct relationship between diet and fatty acid composition in oocytes. However, because of the source of essential fatty acids, the content of Omega-3 fatty acids in the body and the ratio of Omega-6 fatty acids to Omega-3 fatty acids can somewhat reflect the dietary habits of each individual.

To read more about this research study, please click this here.

Many studies have suggested that women who are overweight and/or obese have a higher rate of infertility. They also have lower IVF success rates and a higher rate of miscarriage. 

The Shawkea USA team is excited to introduce our fertility supplement Shawkea D30. It is proven to work for polycystic ovary syndrome patients who are overweight or struggling with weight loss and can significantly improve their IVF outcomes. Unlike any other products that lower blood sugar and reduce weight, Shawkea D30 is a natural product derived from mulberry leaves and dandelion. While effectively regulating blood glucose and reducing triglyceride, Shawkea D30 has no side effects and causes no harm to the liver or kidney. With years of continuous research, thousands of testimonials and case studies, a number of published papers, we are very confident to tell you that the dandelion extract in Shawkea D30 significantly improves oocyte quality by increasing the number of oocyte granulosa cells.