The Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau-IIB Sant Pau and the Fundació Puigvert presented yesterday the scientific project MEDITATE-IVF (Impact of Exercise and Mediterranean diet vs Aspirin on live-birth rate and cardiovascular programming in In Vitro Fertilization), which studies the relationship of the Mediterranean Diet and healthy lifestyle habits with success in in vitro fertilization treatments , with the collaboration of the five PDOs of EVOO from Catalonia.
According to this research institute, 20% of couples have fertility problems and half of these problems could be modified by introducing changes in lifestyle, such as exercising or adopting a healthy diet. Thus, based on this knowledge and taking advantage of the advantages that we have in our territory, such as extra virgin olive oil, the research group in Perinatal and Women's Medicine of the IIB Sant Pau has started this research project to study to what extent introducing a healthy lifestyle could improve the metabolic and cardiovascular status of women undergoing IVF.
Currently, similar interventions in the population at risk have shown improvements in several highly prevalent diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, but, as noted, a study of these characteristics has never been done in women of reproductive age with the idea of improving fertility and the health of the next generations.
“We want to go further and take advantage of a time when future mothers and families consider substantial changes in their lifestyle. We propose them to adopt a healthy diet that has the antioxidant qualities of extra virgin olive oil and adequate levels of sugar and protein while incorporating physical exercise into their routine ”, explained Dr. Elisa Llurba, director of the Service of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, and researcher at the IIB Sant Pau.
"We understand the monitoring and treatment of women's health from a holistic and comprehensive approach, so we want to study to what extent a healthy lifestyle can help in an in vitro fertilization process, also in women without risk factors" , has added.
For her part, Dr. Ana Polo, director of the Reproductive Medicine Program of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau and the Fundació Puigvert, and co-principal investigator of the study at the IIB Sant Pau, has detailed that MEDITATE-IVF will feature with 750 female volunteers who are waiting to undergo in vitro fertilization. Participants will be randomly assigned into three intervention groups. The first group will have a program of physical exercise and Mediterranean Diet that will include the intake of extra virgin olive oil and other dietary measures recommended by experts in physical education and dietetics and nutrition. The second group will receive a supplement of small doses of aspirin, and the third group will not receive either of the two interventions and will be the control group.
The objective of this project is twofold. On the one hand, it aims to increase the possibility that healthy women of reproductive age obtain better results in in vitro fertilization treatments, but also that the development of the fetus is healthier, the so-called fetal programming.
“Although the main objective of the study is to increase the rate of live births, this is closely related to the decrease in complications during pregnancy, mainly pre-eclampsia and low birth weight, factors that condition a higher risk of cardiovascular problems both the mother as well as the baby. Reducing the presence of preeclampsia in these pregnancies would lead to a lower risk of heart attack in women in the long term. Low birth weight has been linked to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Therefore, reducing these complications would have an impact on the health of both the mother and the baby in the long term”, explained Dr. Mónica Cruz-Lemini, specialist in Fetal Medicine and Fetal Programming at the Santa Creu i Sant Pau Hospital's Gynecology and Obstetrics Service, and co-principal investigator of the study at IIB Sant Pau.
A proposal rooted in the territory
The project has the collaboration of the five Protected Denominations of Origin of EVOO of Catalonia (PDO Oli del Baix Ebre Montsià, PDO Oli de l'Empordà, PDO Les Garrigues, PDO Siurana and PDO Oli Terra Alta) that contribute with the oil from extra olive of their respective stamps to the study.
“We are fortunate to have these oils of superior category and with a certificate of origin and quality. Favoring the consumption of extra virgin olive oil protects our health, but also our tradition and culture, contributing to a sustainable territory”, stated Enric Dalmau, president of the Les Garrigues PDO and spokesperson for the five Protected Designations of Origin of olive oil. Catalonia. "Collaboration in projects such as the one that begins today, strengthen our positioning and commitment to health, and help us to spread the qualities and properties of this exceptional product that we have in Catalonia", he added.
Possibly the results of this study will show the need to change habits in women who undergo these techniques. Likewise, the study is expected to allow the identification of therapeutic options for the future related to the success of fertilization, the health of the mother and the development of the fetus, or to serve as a starting point for other studies related to the prevention of cardiovascular risk. in later life.
Source: Mercacei