Cell Being and its Role in Fertility

August 8, 2024

As people age, societal expectations and norms around starting and growing a family can intersect with the biological challenges of fertility. For women, advancing age often brings a decline in egg quantity and quality, alongside hormonal changes that can make conception more difficult. Men may also experience a gradual decrease in sperm quality and quantity over time. Societal pressures and the increasing trend of delaying parenthood can amplify the stress associated with these fertility issues. In response to these challenges, there is growing interest in solutions that support reproductive health and improve fertility outcomes. This article explores how Cell Being is formulated to potentially enhance fertility outcomes through its carefully selected ingredients. Each ingredient is supported by research demonstrating its positive effects on reproductive health, addressing common fertility challenges.

Decline in Female Reproductive Aging

Female reproductive aging is primarily characterized by a significant decrease in both the number and quality of follicles and oocytes. An oocyte is a female reproductive cell, or egg cell, that is crucial for reproduction. Healthy oocytes are necessary for successful fertilization and embryonic development. Women's reproductive ability starts to decline in their early 30s, with the decline becoming more rapid around the mid-30s. For women in their 40s, ovarian aging is closely related to about half of all infertility cases [1,2]. This decline is associated with a significant rise in infertility, miscarriages, embryo death, and congenital birth defects [3,4]. Consequently, diminished oocyte quality becomes a prevalent and challenging issue for older women, leading to less favorable reproductive outcomes [5,6]. Despite this, there are few effective ways to maintain oocyte quality as women get older.

NAD+ and its Role in Fertility

NAD+ is a molecule necessary for enzymes to perform their functions. It is found in every single cell of our bodies and is essential for sustaining cellular energy and maintaining cellular health, making it a key factor in counteracting aging and age-related diseases [7]. Studies show that cellular NAD+ levels decrease with age, leading to defects in cellular health and mitochondrial functions and contributing to age-related diseases [8,9]. This reduction in NAD+ has been observed in different tissues, including the ovaries, where it may negatively impact oocyte quality and contribute to infertility [10,11]. Animal studies show boosting NAD+ levels with supplements like nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) can improve fertility outcomes [12].

Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) and Fertility

NMN has shown promising effects on fertility, particularly in aging females. It’s an immediate precursor to NAD+, meaning it converts directly into NAD+.

Studies have shown that NMN supplementation can enhance oocyte quality and improve fertility outcomes in aged mice by reversing the declining quality of maternally aged oocytes [12,13,14,15]. One study has demonstrated that NMN reverses the declining quality of maternally aged oocytes by increasing the number of antral follicles, ovulated oocytes, and matured oocytes with less fragmentation. This improvement in oocyte quality is essential for successful assisted reproductive technology (ART), such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) outcomes and overall fertility [12].

Environmental Pollutants and Reproductive Health

Environmental pollutants are known to negatively affect fertility by harming reproductive health in both men and women. Substances such as air pollution, endocrine disruptors, and industrial chemicals have been associated with problems like reduced sperm quality and quantity, subfertility, infertility, and various reproductive disorders. These pollutants can cause oxidative stress, epigenetic changes, hormonal imbalances, and damage to the reproductive system, affecting fertility outcomes.

NMN has been shown to restore eggs that have been exposed to and damaged by environmental pollutants, preserving oocyte quality and potentially improving fertility in animals and possibly in humans [16].

Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) is a chemical used as a softener and plasticizer in products like toys, food packaging, wallpaper, detergents, and shampoos. It’s an endocrine disrupter and its estrogen-like effects can have harmful impacts on both humans and animals. A study looked at how BBP affects the maturation of mouse eggs oocytes using both live mice and lab-based experiments. They found that BBP exposure significantly disrupted the process by which eggs release the first polar body (a small cell that forms during the process of oocyte maturation), although it did not impact another key step, germinal vesicle breakdown. BBP also reduced the success rate of fertilization in the lab. Further tests showed that BBP exposure caused problems with how eggs organize their structures and chromosomes, as well as the arrangement of actin, a protein important for cell shape. This disruption led to failures in egg maturation and early embryo development. They also revealed that BBP altered the activity of 588 genes, mainly those related to mitochondrial stress. BBP exposure damaged mitochondrial function and caused oxidative stress, leading to early cell death. However, supplementation with nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) helped reduce these negative effects. Overall, the study highlighted how BBP harms female reproduction and demonstrated that NMN can help counteract these harmful effects by lessening the impact of BBP on DNA damage and cell death, consistent with NMN protecting mitochondrial function. This protection helps reduce the buildup of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby preventing DNA damage and decreasing cell death in aging oocytes [15].

Resveratrol and Fertility

Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol present in plants like grapes and berries, has been extensively studied for its potential impact on fertility in both males and females. Research suggests that resveratrol may help protect against oxidative damage to ovarian reserves in female rats, leading to improvements in the number and quality of healthy follicles and oocytes [17]. In males, resveratrol has been found to enhance testicular function and spermatogenesis by activating the AMPK pathway [18]. Additionally, resveratrol's antioxidant properties and positive effects on enzymatic pathways have been shown to benefit male fertility [19].

Resveratrol administration has yielded encouraging results in improving fertility outcomes. For example, in female mice, resveratrol supplementation extended ovarian lifespan, leading to increased numbers and better quality of ovulated oocytes, improved embryo development, and larger litter sizes [20]. Furthermore, in women undergoing in vitro fertilization, higher levels of resveratrol in serum and follicular fluid have been linked to improved fertility measures [21].

TMG and Fertility

TMG stands for trimethylglycine, but is also known as betaine. It’s a naturally occurring compound produced by the body and found in various foods.

TMG supplementation has been suggested as a useful agent for enhancing semen quality, fertility, and breeding strategies in animals, particularly in hot climates [22]. In broiler breeders, dietary TMG supplementation has been linked to improved egg and semen quality, as well as increased fertility and hatchability rates [23]. Additionally, research using mice genetically modified to lack the MTHFR enzyme has demonstrated that TMG can positively impact sperm production and development. Specifically, in situations where there is a deficiency of folate (a type of B vitamin essential for DNA synthesis and repair), TMG helps to prevent a decrease in DNA methylation, which is crucial for maintaining genetic stability and proper cell function. Essentially, TMG is shown to support healthy sperm production and genetic stability even when folate levels are low [24].

While the precise mechanism by which TMG improves spermatogenesis is not fully understood [25], it has been observed that TMG can increase total sperm count, improve semen quality, and enhance reproductive performance in animals [26]. Furthermore, TMG supplementation has been found to alleviate testicular damage and oxidative stress in male mice under chronic stress conditions, suggesting a potential therapeutic effect on sperm quality [27].