NJ fertility company studies effects of gluten

BASKING RIDGE – A new study is disproving a widely-believed theory that maintaining a gluten-free diet can help improve outcomes of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. 

The medical research was conducted by the Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey (RMANJ), which presented its findings this week at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) 2017 Scientific Congress & Expo in San Antonio, Texas. The conference addresses a variety of topics in the field of reproductive medicine, including recent studies that examine embryology, genetic screening, embryo biopsy and patient psychology.

While healthy eating, including a low-carb diet, is part of a holistic, evidence-based approach to treating patients with infertility at RMANJ, adhering to a gluten-free diet has been shown to have no impact on increasing fertility for those trying to conceive. The study is one of several conducted by RMANJ that investigates IVF outcomes in gluten-free patients and the frequency of celiac disease in infertile patients.


 RMANJ found that patients on a gluten-free diet had equivalent IVF success rates to those whose diet included gluten, proving that maintaining a gluten-free diet to improve IVF outcomes is a major misconception. Another study revealed that IVF success rates were equivalent between those with celiac disease and those without gluten intolerance.
 
"Gluten-free diets have risen in popularity over the last few years for quick fixes to a variety of health issues, including infertility, and we wanted to scientifically explore that claim," said Dr. Richard T. Scott, Jr., CEO of RMANJ parent company IVI-RMA Global and co-author of several gluten-free studies. "Our goal is to leverage research to continually refine our holistic, patient-centered approach to care and, as a result of these studies, we have determined that there is no evidence to support that claim."

RMANJ’s utilizes a state-of-the-art laboratory and breakthrough technologies, including comprehensive chromosome screening that helps determine which embryos are most likely to help a woman conceive during IVF, to treat patients and conduct research in the field. According to the company, its success rate is significantly higher than the national average for IVF treatments in women up to age 42, the oldest age for which data is made available. (Women under age 35, for example, have an 86.6% IVF success rate with RMANJ, compared to 69.2% nationwide.)

"RMANJ's mission is to help patients achieve successful pregnancies and deliver healthy babies. The level and variety of research we released this year at ASRM is a testament to our desire to help everyone overcome infertility, one healthy baby at a time," said Dr. Scott Morin, a third year fellow at RMANJ. "Our delivery rates, which have been above the US average for more than 10 years, are proof that RMANJ's forward-thinking approach to fertility gives patients a way to measure hope."

RMANJ employs 25 physicians in 10 sites throughout New Jersey. Offices are located in Basking Ridge, Eatontown, Englewood, Evesham (aka Marlton), Freehold, Hamilton, Morristown, Somerset, Springfield and West Orange.

For full information about RMANJ's 2017 ASRM research and additional reproductive health-focused data, visit RMANJ.comhttp://www.rmanj.com/.