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Fast food delays time to pregnancy

Diets high in fast food and/or low in fruit are associated with increased time to pregnancy and risk for infertility, according to new findings published in Human Reproduction.

“Several lifestyle factors, such as smoking and obesity, have consistently been associated with a longer time to pregnancy or infertility, but the role of preconception diet in women remains poorly studied,” Jessica A. Grieger, BSc(hons), RNutr, PhD, from the Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Australia, and colleagues wrote.

Grieger and colleagues conducted a multicenter pregnancy-based cohort study to determine whether preconception dietary intake is associated with reduced fertility, defined as longer time to pregnancy. The researchers enrolled 5,598 nulliparous women with low-risk singleton pregnancies. Most participants did not use fertility treatments (n = 5,258).

At 14 to 16 weeks gestation, participants reported their time to pregnancy and dietary intake of fruits, green leafy vegetables, fish and fast foods, such as burgers, pizza, fried chicken and French fries, in the month before conception.

Diets high in fast food and/or low in fruit are associated with increased time to pregnancy and risk for infertility.

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The researchers found that women who consumed lower amounts of fruit and higher amounts of fast food had a modestly increased risk for longer time to pregnancy and infertility.

Compared with those who consumed fruit three or more times per day, the median time to pregnancy increased 6% in women who consumed fruit one to two times per day, 11% for one to six times per week and 19% for less than one to three times per month,. The median time to pregnancy decreased 11% in women who consumed fast food two to three times per week, 21% for zero to one time per week and 24% for no fast food, compared with those who consumed fast food four or more times per week.

The risk for infertility increased 7% in women who consumed fruit one to two times per day, 18% for one to six times per week and 29% for less than one to three times per month, compared with those who consumed fruit three or more times per day. The risk for infertility decreased 18% in women who consumed fast food two to three times per week, 34% for zero to one time per week and 41% for no fast food, compared with those who consumed fast food four or more times per week.

Time to pregnancy and infertility were not affected by prepregnancy consumption of green leafy vegetables or fish.

“We recommend that women who want to become pregnant should align their dietary intakes towards national dietary recommendations for pregnancy,” Grieger said in a press release. “Our data show that frequent consumption of fast foods delays time to pregnancy.”

“As diet is a modifiable factor, our findings underscore the importance of considering preconception diet to support timely conception for women planning pregnancy,” she added. – by Alaina Tedesco

Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.