Summary:
This study was a meta-analysis that examined the relationship between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), a measure of the inflammatory potential of a person’s diet, and infertility. Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after a one year period. Male factors contribute substantially to infertility cases, and there is increasing interest in identifying modifiable lifestyle factors, such as diet, that may improve reproductive outcomes. Diet is thought to influence fertility through its effects on inflammation. Chronic inflammation has been associated with reproductive conditions such as endometriosis, menstrual irregularities, miscarriage, and reduced sperm quality. Previous research has shown that nutrients including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins C and E, zinc, selenium, and coenzyme Q10, may support reproductive health, while dietary patterns high in processed foods, saturated fats, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages have been linked to poorer fertility outcomes. This study looked at data on dietary inflammatory potential and infertility outcomes. Nine studies involving 17,711 participants met the inclusion and findings showed that individuals with the most pro-inflammatory diets had a 61% greater likelihood of infertility compared with those consuming the most anti-inflammatory diets. In addition, each increase in DII score was associated with a 10% increase in the odds of infertility. Overall, this study found that diets with greater inflammatory potential were associated with higher odds of infertility. The findings suggest that reducing dietary inflammation may be a promising strategy to support reproductive health.
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Abstract:
Introduction: To evaluate the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and risk of infertility in human participants.Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted using the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, and Google Scholar databases until January 2025. All observational studies that reported an association between the DII and infertility in human participants were included. Data were extracted on study characteristics, DII scores, and infertility outcomes. Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models, and the heterogeneity of studies was evaluated using I2 statistics.Results: Of the 801 studies screened, nine met the inclusion criteria, involving 17,711 individuals. The analysis revealed a significant association between a pro-inflammatory diet (characterized by high DII scores) and infertility (odds ratio (OR): 1.61, 95% CI: 1.32–1.95) among participants in the highest quartile of the DII. Additionally, each unit increase in the DII was associated with a 10% higher risk of infertility (OR, 1.10; 95% CI: 1.05–1.15). Subgroup analyses revealed a significant association between anti-inflammatory diets (low DII scores) and infertility in men and increased infertility risk in both the Iranian and US populations and in female participants on a pro-inflammatory diet. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the overall OR remained stable, with the results not being significantly influenced by the exclusion of individual studies.Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential role of inflammation-related dietary factors in reproductive health and suggest that dietary modifications targeting inflammation could be a promising intervention for infertility management. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings and to establish causal relationships.
Article Publication Date: 26/08/2025
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1599782
