Summary:
This study examined whether dietary nutrient intake was associated with body composition and reproductive hormone markers in women seeking fertility treatment. Infertility is a common global health issue affecting around one in six couples of reproductive age. Growing evidence suggests that modifiable factors, particularly nutrition and body composition, may influence female fertility through their effects on metabolic and hormonal function. Previous research has shown that both low body weight and obesity can negatively affect fertility by disrupting hormonal pathways involved in ovulation and egg development. The study included 97 women aged 18-40 years who attended a fertility clinic in Spain between 2022 and 2024 and had been unable to conceive after at least 12 months. Women with conditions that could substantially affect fertility were excluded. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire, while body composition measurements included BMI, body fat, muscle mass, waist and hip circumference, and visceral fat. Hormone levels were measured through blood tests. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, higher dietary vitamin E intake was associated with lower prolactin levels and smaller hip circumference. Higher intakes of vitamin B2 and calcium were associated with greater muscle mass. The authors suggested that vitamin E may contribute to a more favourable hormonal and metabolic profile because of its antioxidant properties, which may help reduce oxidative stress, a factor linked to reproductive dysfunction. Similarly, greater muscle mass is considered an indicator of better metabolic health, which may support reproductive function.
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Abstract:
Infertility affects 17.5% of reproductive-age couples and represents a global health challenge with a complex etiology. While nutritional status and diet are recognized as modifiable factors, evidence in specialized clinical settings remains limited. This study was designed under the hypothesis that dietary nutrient intake is significantly associated with the hormonal and anthropometric profile of women seeking fertility treatment. We aimed to address this gap by analyzing these associations in a well-characterized clinical cohort. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 97 women (aged 18–40 years) diagnosed with infertility at Marina Salud Hospital (Spain) between 2022 and 2024. Dietary intake and body composition were assessed using a validated 137-item FFQ and standardized anthropometric measurements (BIA). Reproductive hormones were analyzed from follicular-phase blood samples. Statistical analyses included Spearman correlations and linear regression models adjusted for total energy intake, physical activity, smoking status, and BMI (p < 0.05). Participants had a mean BMI of 25.5 ± 5.6 kg/m2, with 23.7% overweight and 17.5% obese. Body fat (35.9 ± 9.3%) and visceral fat (5.5 ± 2.3%) percentages exceeded recommended values. Multivariate analysis showed that higher intakes of riboflavin (β = 0.665, p = 0.042) and calcium (β = 0.004, p = 0.012) were significantly associated with increased muscle mass percentage. Additionally, vitamin E intake was inversely associated with hip circumference (β = − 0.773, p = 0.004). Regarding hormonal markers, vitamin E showed a significant inverse association with prolactin levels, which remained robust after adjusting for potential confounders (β = − 0.501, p = 0.008). No other nutrient–hormone associations reached significance after adjustment. These findings suggest that specific nutrients, such as riboflavin and vitamin E, are associated with a more favorable body composition and hormonal regulation in women with infertility. Although the cross-sectional design limits causal inference, these results highlight potential modifiable targets for personalized nutritional support in reproductive health. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these exploratory findings.
Article Publication Date: 22/04/2026
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-47490-x
