Does a Mediterranean Diet Boost Embryo Quality?
Yes, in a randomized trial: couples who received olive oil, an Omega-3 and Vitamin D supplement drink, and an olive oil-based spread for 6 weeks before IVF had significantly better embryo quality than the placebo group, though the study wasn't large enough to confirm whether that translated to higher live birth rates.
Fish, olive oil, nuts, beans, garlic -- pretty much a rundown of the Mediterranean diet, and also some of my favorite things to eat. A genuinely interesting study looked at whether these foods could impact embryo quality directly.
The study design
Half the participants received olive oil to cook with at home, an olive oil-based spread, and a supplement drink containing Omega-3 fats (EPA, DHA) and Vitamin D. The other half received a placebo: no extra Vitamin D or fish oil, and regular sunflower seed oil to cook with instead. (Using a supplement drink rather than just having people cook differently was a way to standardize the dose and control for a placebo effect.) After six weeks, both groups began IVF cycles.
The results
Embryos from couples in the Mediterranean-supplement group were significantly better quality than those in the placebo group. There weren't enough participants to determine whether that improved embryo quality actually translated into higher IVF success rates -- so that part remains an open question. But the clear takeaway: what you eat even before starting IVF treatment can influence embryo development. In a process where so much feels out of your hands, it's genuinely nice to know there are still a few things you can do.
Reference
Kermack et al. (2020). Fertility and Sterility, 113(2), 260–269. Effect of a 6-week "Mediterranean" dietary intervention on in vitro human embryo development: the Preconception Dietary Supplements in Assisted Reproduction double-blinded randomized controlled trial.
Common questions
Does better embryo quality mean higher IVF success rates?
This study wasn't large enough to confirm that link directly -- it showed a clear embryo-quality difference, but couldn't determine whether that translated into more successful IVF cycles.