News | US Study: Higher Intake of Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Lower Fertility in Women; Mediterranean Diet Benefits May Be Affected by Body Weight
A data study based on a nationally representative US population shows that the higher the proportion of ultra-processed foods (UPF) in the diet, the lower the likelihood that women are classified as "fertile"; while the Mediterranean diet showed a positive effect in preliminary analysis, this advantage was significantly attenuated after accounting for obesity. The related study has been published in Nutrition and Health.
The research team analyzed data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2013 to 2018, examining 2,582 women aged 20 to 45, defining infertility status through self-reported "failure to conceive after 12 months of attempting pregnancy." The results showed that approximately 88% of participants were classified as fertile, while 12% reported infertility issues.
Ultra-Processed Food Intake: Significantly Associated with Reduced Fertility
The study found that approximately 27% of daily energy intake in women came from ultra-processed foods, while in the infertile population, this proportion rose to 31%. Statistical analysis showed that for every 10% increase in the proportion of ultra-processed food intake, the probability of women being classified as fertile decreased significantly, and this association remained after adjusting for total energy intake and obesity.
This result suggests that the impact of ultra-processed foods on fertility may not only operate through body weight or obesity, but also involve more complex metabolic and endocrine mechanisms.
Mediterranean Diet: Benefits Exist but Are "Weakened" by Obesity
In contrast, women who adhered to a Mediterranean dietary pattern (rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fish) showed a higher probability of fertility in the preliminary model. However, after further inclusion of obesity as a factor, this association was no longer statistically significant.
The researchers noted that this means the benefits of the Mediterranean diet may be partially achieved through improvements in body weight and metabolic health, rather than acting entirely independently.
Potential Mechanisms: From Nutritional Deficiencies to Endocrine Disruption
The study explained the link between dietary patterns and fertility from multiple levels:
Nutritional inadequacy: Ultra-processed foods typically lack dietary fiber, folate, iron, and antioxidants, which are important nutrients for maintaining hormonal balance and ovarian function
Exposure to endocrine disruptors: Food processing and packaging may introduce chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenols, which have been confirmed to be associated with hormonal disruption and reduced fertility
Chronic inflammation and gut microbiota imbalance: High UPF diets are closely related to inflammatory responses and gut microbial dysbiosis, which may affect egg quality, embryonic development, and endometrial receptivity
These mechanisms collectively constitute the biological basis through which diet affects reproductive health.
Public Health Implications: From "What to Eat" to "How It Is Processed"
The study emphasizes that while focusing on nutrient intake, the "degree of food processing" itself should become an important dimension of reproductive health interventions. Compared to simply calculating caloric or nutrient proportions, reducing ultra-processed food intake and increasing consumption of natural or minimally processed foods may be a more actionable strategy.
In addition, the study also suggests that the effects of a single dietary pattern (such as the Mediterranean diet) may depend on an individual's metabolic status, particularly weight management.
Study Limitations and Future Directions
The research team also noted that this study has a cross-sectional design and cannot determine causality; fertility status relies on self-reporting, which may underestimate or misclassify some clinical infertility cases. Future long-term follow-up studies and mechanistic research are still needed to further clarify the causal pathways between diet and fertility.
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Author LinkedIVF TeamPublished 2026-03-23
This article used AI assistance; LinkedIVF has not recorded an editorial review for this item. It is not medical advice.
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News | U.S. study: Higher ultra-processed food intake linked to lower female fertility; Mediterranean diet benefits may depend on weight
News | US Study: Higher Intake of Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Lower Fertility in Women; Mediterranean Diet Benefits May Be Affected by Body Weight
A data study based on a nationally representative US population shows that the higher the proportion of ultra-processed foods (UPF) in the diet, the lower the likelihood that women are classified as "fertile"; while the Mediterranean diet showed a positive effect in preliminary analysis, this advantage was significantly attenuated after accounting for obesity. The related study has been published in Nutrition and Health.
The research team analyzed data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2013 to 2018, examining 2,582 women aged 20 to 45, defining infertility status through self-reported "failure to conceive after 12 months of attempting pregnancy." The results showed that approximately 88% of participants were classified as fertile, while 12% reported infertility issues.
Ultra-Processed Food Intake: Significantly Associated with Reduced Fertility
The study found that approximately 27% of daily energy intake in women came from ultra-processed foods, while in the infertile population, this proportion rose to 31%. Statistical analysis showed that for every 10% increase in the proportion of ultra-processed food intake, the probability of women being classified as fertile decreased significantly, and this association remained after adjusting for total energy intake and obesity.
This result suggests that the impact of ultra-processed foods on fertility may not only operate through body weight or obesity, but also involve more complex metabolic and endocrine mechanisms.
Mediterranean Diet: Benefits Exist but Are "Weakened" by Obesity
In contrast, women who adhered to a Mediterranean dietary pattern (rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fish) showed a higher probability of fertility in the preliminary model. However, after further inclusion of obesity as a factor, this association was no longer statistically significant.
The researchers noted that this means the benefits of the Mediterranean diet may be partially achieved through improvements in body weight and metabolic health, rather than acting entirely independently.
Potential Mechanisms: From Nutritional Deficiencies to Endocrine Disruption
The study explained the link between dietary patterns and fertility from multiple levels:
Nutritional inadequacy: Ultra-processed foods typically lack dietary fiber, folate, iron, and antioxidants, which are important nutrients for maintaining hormonal balance and ovarian function
Exposure to endocrine disruptors: Food processing and packaging may introduce chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenols, which have been confirmed to be associated with hormonal disruption and reduced fertility
Chronic inflammation and gut microbiota imbalance: High UPF diets are closely related to inflammatory responses and gut microbial dysbiosis, which may affect egg quality, embryonic development, and endometrial receptivity
These mechanisms collectively constitute the biological basis through which diet affects reproductive health.
Public Health Implications: From "What to Eat" to "How It Is Processed"
The study emphasizes that while focusing on nutrient intake, the "degree of food processing" itself should become an important dimension of reproductive health interventions. Compared to simply calculating caloric or nutrient proportions, reducing ultra-processed food intake and increasing consumption of natural or minimally processed foods may be a more actionable strategy.
In addition, the study also suggests that the effects of a single dietary pattern (such as the Mediterranean diet) may depend on an individual's metabolic status, particularly weight management.
Study Limitations and Future Directions
The research team also noted that this study has a cross-sectional design and cannot determine causality; fertility status relies on self-reporting, which may underestimate or misclassify some clinical infertility cases. Future long-term follow-up studies and mechanistic research are still needed to further clarify the causal pathways between diet and fertility.
Story source:
Collected from the internet