News | Does diet affect pregnancy? Gut-health score study suggests an ‘overly healthy’ diet may increase infertility risk
‘It seemed logical that a healthier diet would improve the chance of pregnancy. But research suggests that taking healthy eating too far may be counterproductive.’
A study published in Frontiers in Nutrition found that although a gut-friendly diet may reduce women’s risk of infertility, this protective association disappears or even reverses once diet quality passes a certain threshold. The researchers said the findings challenge the idea that healthier is always better and emphasize that nutritional balance matters more than pursuing a perfect diet.
Background: Infertility has become a hidden global public-health epidemic
The study used data from 3,053 nonpregnant women aged 18–45 who participated in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2013 to 2018. Approximately 12.1% of them, or 370 women, reported infertility.
Several health organizations have ranked infertility as the world’s third major public-health threat after cardiovascular disease and cancer. Its causes are complex and include ovulatory disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, and immune abnormalities. In recent years, a growing body of research has linked diet, a modifiable behavior, with reproductive function.
What is the DI-GM score?
The Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota (DI-GM) used in this study was developed by Kase and colleagues to quantify how supportive a diet is of the gut microbiota.
The DI-GM includes 14 components:
10 beneficial foods: avocados, broccoli, chickpeas, coffee, cranberries, fermented dairy products, dietary fiber, green tea, soy, and whole grains;
4 unfavorable components: red meat, processed meat, refined grains, and a high-fat diet.
Each participant received a composite score from 0 to 13 based on two 24-hour dietary-recall questionnaires.
The relationship between DI-GM score and infertility has a threshold
The researchers first found that women reporting infertility had significantly lower average DI-GM scores than women who had given birth.
Further regression analysis showed:
When the DI-GM score was below 8, higher scores were associated with a lower risk of infertility;
But above 8, infertility risk increased.
This suggests that an unhealthy diet is harmful, but an extremely health-focused diet may not necessarily be beneficial; the key is maintaining an optimal range.
Potential links among the gut microbiota, metabolism, and fertility
The study also observed that women reporting infertility generally had:
Higher triglyceride and fasting blood-glucose levels;
Higher rates of obesity, pelvic inflammatory disease, and metabolic disorders.
These factors are closely associated with disruption of the gut microbiota. Because dietary patterns directly affect gut microbes, appropriate dietary adjustment may become a nonpharmacologic approach to addressing infertility.
Medical implication: Do not pursue healthy foods to an extreme; aim for an appropriate balance
‘The DI-GM offers a new perspective on diet quality and gut health. Rather than pursuing an extremely healthy diet, we should seek balance and moderation,’ the study authors concluded.
They proposed that future nutritional interventions for women with infertility should prioritize helping women reach an optimal DI-GM range rather than simply maximizing the score.
News | Does diet affect pregnancy? Gut-health score study suggests an ‘overly healthy’ diet may increase infertility risk
News | Does diet affect pregnancy? Gut-health score study suggests an ‘overly healthy’ diet may increase infertility risk
‘It seemed logical that a healthier diet would improve the chance of pregnancy. But research suggests that taking healthy eating too far may be counterproductive.’
A study published in Frontiers in Nutrition found that although a gut-friendly diet may reduce women’s risk of infertility, this protective association disappears or even reverses once diet quality passes a certain threshold. The researchers said the findings challenge the idea that healthier is always better and emphasize that nutritional balance matters more than pursuing a perfect diet.
Background: Infertility has become a hidden global public-health epidemic
The study used data from 3,053 nonpregnant women aged 18–45 who participated in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2013 to 2018. Approximately 12.1% of them, or 370 women, reported infertility.
Several health organizations have ranked infertility as the world’s third major public-health threat after cardiovascular disease and cancer. Its causes are complex and include ovulatory disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, and immune abnormalities. In recent years, a growing body of research has linked diet, a modifiable behavior, with reproductive function.
What is the DI-GM score?
The Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota (DI-GM) used in this study was developed by Kase and colleagues to quantify how supportive a diet is of the gut microbiota.
The DI-GM includes 14 components:
10 beneficial foods: avocados, broccoli, chickpeas, coffee, cranberries, fermented dairy products, dietary fiber, green tea, soy, and whole grains;
4 unfavorable components: red meat, processed meat, refined grains, and a high-fat diet.
Each participant received a composite score from 0 to 13 based on two 24-hour dietary-recall questionnaires.
The relationship between DI-GM score and infertility has a threshold
The researchers first found that women reporting infertility had significantly lower average DI-GM scores than women who had given birth.
Further regression analysis showed:
When the DI-GM score was below 8, higher scores were associated with a lower risk of infertility;
But above 8, infertility risk increased.
This suggests that an unhealthy diet is harmful, but an extremely health-focused diet may not necessarily be beneficial; the key is maintaining an optimal range.
Potential links among the gut microbiota, metabolism, and fertility
The study also observed that women reporting infertility generally had:
Higher triglyceride and fasting blood-glucose levels;
Lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C);
Higher rates of obesity, pelvic inflammatory disease, and metabolic disorders.
These factors are closely associated with disruption of the gut microbiota. Because dietary patterns directly affect gut microbes, appropriate dietary adjustment may become a nonpharmacologic approach to addressing infertility.
Medical implication: Do not pursue healthy foods to an extreme; aim for an appropriate balance
‘The DI-GM offers a new perspective on diet quality and gut health. Rather than pursuing an extremely healthy diet, we should seek balance and moderation,’ the study authors concluded.
They proposed that future nutritional interventions for women with infertility should prioritize helping women reach an optimal DI-GM range rather than simply maximizing the score.
Source:
Collected online