Everyday nutrient intake may be linked to hormonal and body composition markers in women seeking fertility care, according to an Apr. 26 study published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The findings matter because one in six couples worldwide faces infertility, which brings emotional and financial challenges. As medical treatments advance, researchers are also looking at lifestyle factors like nutrition as possible ways to improve reproductive health outcomes.
The cross-sectional study included 97 women aged 18–40 who met clinical criteria for infertility and attended a fertility clinic in Spain between 2022 and 2024. The researchers excluded participants with conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, or certain endocrine diseases that could confound results. Dietary intake was measured using a validated food frequency questionnaire reflecting typical consumption over the previous year. Anthropometric data such as body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, body fat percentage (BFP), and muscle mass percentage (MMP) were collected through bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Researchers found that riboflavin (vitamin B2) intake showed a positive correlation with muscle mass percentage after statistical adjustments, though this relationship was described as nominal after correcting for multiple comparisons. Calcium intake was also positively associated with muscle mass percentage. Vitamin E stood out for its inverse association with hip circumference—higher vitamin E consumption correlated with lower hip circumference—and higher vitamin E intake was also linked to lower prolactin levels. Elevated prolactin can disrupt ovulation and menstrual cycles; thus, this finding may have clinical significance if confirmed by further research.
Other nutrients initially appeared related to anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), but these associations did not remain significant after adjusting for confounding variables. The authors say their results suggest that only certain nutrients show consistent relationships with reproductive markers among women seeking fertility care.
While causality cannot be established due to the study’s cross-sectional design, the researchers say their findings point toward diet as a modifiable factor worth considering alongside standard fertility treatments. They recommend longer-term studies to validate these connections and help guide future personalized nutrition strategies.
