Schipper Mireille C, Jaddoe Vincent Wv, Bekkers Eline L, Mulders Annemarie Gmgj, Gaillard Romy
The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Sophia's Children's Hospital, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2025 Jun;121(6):1354-1364. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.04.006. Epub 2025 Apr 11.
Seafood, nuts, and seeds are key dietary sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which may benefit reproductive health.
This study aims to investigate associations of periconception dietary intake of PUFA-rich foods and omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs with fecundability and subfertility in females and males.
Among 830 females and 651 males, participating in a population-based prospective cohort study from preconception onwards, we assessed periconception dietary intake at median 12.4-wk gestation (95% range: 10.9, 18.4) and time to pregnancy via questionnaires. Fecundability was defined as the probability of conceiving within 1 mo and subfertility as time to pregnancy ≥12 mo or use of assisted reproductive technology. Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression were used to assess associations between PUFA(-rich foods) with fecundability and subfertility.
In females, PUFA-rich food intake was not significantly associated with fertility. Higher omega-3 PUFA intake, especially docosahexaenoic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, but not omega-6 PUFA, was per standard deviation score (SDS) increase associated with increased fecundability and reduced subfertility. Strongest effects were observed for females in the highest quartile. A lower omega-6 to omega-3 PUFA ratio was associated with increased fecundability and lower subfertility risk [fecundability ratio (FR): 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.87, 0.96; odds ratio (OR): 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.26, per unit increase in omega-6:omega-3 PUFA ratio]. In males, higher intake of nuts/seeds, but not seafood, was associated with increased fecundability and lower subfertility (FR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.20; OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.97 per SDS increase in nuts/seeds). Strongest effects were present for those who consumed the highest amount. No associations were observed for omega-3 or omega-6 PUFA intake in males.
In females, higher dietary omega-3 PUFAs intake may benefit fertility. Increased nuts and seeds consumption may improve fertility in males, independent of PUFA intake. These findings suggest potential for gender-specific dietary interventions to support reproductive health.
海鲜、坚果和种子是多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA）的主要饮食来源，可能有益于生殖健康。
本研究旨在调查受孕前富含PUFA的食物以及ω-3和ω-6多不饱和脂肪酸的饮食摄入量与女性和男性生育力及亚生育力之间的关联。
在830名女性和651名男性中，他们从受孕前开始参与一项基于人群的前瞻性队列研究，我们通过问卷调查评估了妊娠中位数12.4周（95%范围：10.9，18.4）时的受孕前饮食摄入量以及怀孕时间。生育力定义为1个月内受孕的概率，亚生育力定义为怀孕时间≥12个月或使用辅助生殖技术。采用Cox比例风险模型和逻辑回归来评估富含PUFA的食物与生育力及亚生育力之间的关联。
在女性中，富含PUFA的食物摄入量与生育力无显著关联。每增加一个标准差评分（SDS），较高的ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸摄入量，尤其是二十二碳六烯酸和α-亚麻酸，但不是ω-6多不饱和脂肪酸，与生育力增加和亚生育力降低相关。在最高四分位数的女性中观察到最强的效应。较低的ω-6与ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸比例与生育力增加和亚生育力风险降低相关[生育力比值（FR）：0.92，95%置信区间（CI）：0.87，0.96；优势比（OR）：1.14，95%CI：1.02，1.26，ω-6：ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸比例每增加一个单位]。在男性中，较高的坚果/种子摄入量，但不是海鲜摄入量，与生育力增加和亚生育力降低相关（FR：1.10，95%CI：1.01，1.20；OR：0.78，95%CI：0.63，0.97，坚果/种子摄入量每增加一个SDS）。摄入量最高的男性中观察到最强的效应。在男性中未观察到ω-3或ω-6多不饱和脂肪酸摄入量与生育力及亚生育力之间的关联。
在女性中，较高的饮食中ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸摄入量可能有益于生育。增加坚果和种子的摄入量可能改善男性的生育力，与PUFA摄入量无关。这些发现表明针对性别的饮食干预对支持生殖健康具有潜力。
