Lynn M. Westphal, MD, Mary Lake Polan, MD, PhD, MPH*, Aileen Sontag Trant, PhD

Objective: To determine the impact of nutritional supplementation on female fertility.

Design: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was initiated to determine the effects of FertilityBlend for Women, a proprietary nutritional supplement containing chasteberry and green tea extracts, L-arginine, vitamins (including folate) and minerals. Changes in progesterone level, basal body temperature, menstrual cycle, pregnancy rate and side effects were monitored.

Results: Ninety-three (93) women, age 24-42 years, who had tried unsuccessfully to conceive for six to 36 months, completed the study. After three months, the FertilityBlend (FB) supplement group (N=53 vs. 40 in placebo group) demonstrated a strong trend toward an increase in mean mid-luteal phase progesterone (from 8.2 to 10.4 ng/ml, p=0.06). Among women initially low in progesterone (<12 ng/ml, N=34 in FB and 23 in placebo group), the increase in the FB group with low progesterone was highly significant (4.9 to 9.3 ng/ml; p=0.005). The average number of days in cycle with basal temperatures over 98F during luteal phase also increased significantly in the overall FB group (5.5 to 8.1 days, p=0.006). Among women starting with short cycles (<27 days, N=15 in FB and N=9 in placebo group), mean cycle length increased significantly in the FB group (from 24.2 to 27.6 days; p<0.001). Among women with longer cycles (>32 days, N=11 in FB and 6 in placebo group), cycles tended to shorten in the FB group (from 41.6 to 31.7; p=0.02). The placebo group overall (N=40) did not show any notable changes after treatment, in any of the parameters studied. After six months, 17 of the 53 women in the FB group were pregnant (32%), and four of the 40 women in the placebo group were pregnant (10%; p<0.01). No significant side effects were noted.

Conclusion: Nutritional supplementation may provide an attractive alternative or complement to conventional fertility therapies.

Journal of Women's Health . May2005;14(4):365.

CLINICAL STUDY OF FERTILITYBLEND, A NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT USED FOR THE OPTIMIZATION OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN WOMEN.

LM Westphal, MD, ML Polan, MD, PhD, MPH, AS Trant, PhD, SB Mooney, MD

Objective: To determine the impact of nutritional supplementation on the optimization of reproductive health in women.

Study Design: A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study was initiated to determine the effects of FertilityBlend, a proprietary nutritional supplement containing chasteberry and green tea extracts, L-arginine, vitamins (including folate) and minerals. Changes in progesterone level, basal body temperature, menstrual cycle, pregnancy rate and side effects were monitored.

Results: Thirty (30) women, age 24-46 years, who had tried unsuccessfully to conceive for six to 36 months completed the study. After three months, the supplement group (N=15) demonstrated a trend toward an increase in mean mid-luteal phase progesterone level (from 8.2 to 12.8 ng/ml, p=0.08); also a significant increase in the average number of days in cycle with basal temperatures over 37C (98F) during luteal phase (6.8 to 9.7 days, p=0.04). The placebo group (N=15) did not show any notable changes after treatment, in any of the parameters studied. After five months, five of the 15 women in the supplement group were pregnant (33%), and none of the 16 women in the placebo group were pregnant (p<0.01). No significant side effects were noted.

Conclusion: Nutritional supplementation may provide an attractive alternative or complement to conventional fertility therapies.