Get out in the Sun!

May 02, 2012

Blog written by Fairfax Cryobank Compliance Officer Amy Erickson Hagen

We know the sun is good for our emotional wellbeing but can it also affect fertility? New research says yes! According to Austrian physicians Barbara Obermayer-Pietsch and Elisabeth Lerchbaum vitamin D plays a role in human fertility. Deficiency of vitamin D can cause infertility among women and men. They found that low levels of vitamin D often lead to too much testosterone, which therefore could increase the risk of infertility among women. Also, when men are given extra vitamin D they produce more testosterone subsequently affecting the semen quality.

Researchers said, “It may not be that controlling vitamin D is the ultimate answer to fertility problems but it could be a very cheap and simple solution at least in some cases.”

Sources of Vitamin D:

• Fatty fish species, such as:

• Catfish, 85 g (3 oz) provides 425 IU (5 IU/g)

• Salmon, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz) provides 360 IU (3.6 IU/g)

• Mackerel, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz), 345 IU (3.45 IU/g)

• Sardines, canned in oil, drained, 50 g (1.75 oz), 250 IU (5 IU/g)

• Tuna, canned in oil, 100 g (3.5 oz), 235 IU (2.35 IU/g)

• Eel, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz), 200 IU (2.00 IU/g)

• A whole egg provides 20 IU if egg weighs 60 g (0.333 IU/g)

• Beef liver, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz), provides 15 IU (0.15 IU/g)

• Fish liver oils, such as cod liver oil, 1 Tbs. (15 ml) provides 1360 IU (90.6 IU/ml)

• UV-irradiated mushrooms and yeast are the only known vegan significant sources of vitamin D from food sources. Exposure of portabella mushrooms to UV provides an increase of vitamin D content in an 100-g portion (grilled) from about 14 IU (0.14 IU/g non-exposed) to about 500 IU (5 IU/g exposed to UV light).

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