Association between the dietary inflammatory index and infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis
IntroductionTo evaluate the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and risk of infertility in human participants.MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted using the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, and Google Scholar databases until January 2025. All observationa...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1599782/full |
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| author | Yasamin Zahedi Shayan Bonyanpour Seyed Danial Alizadeh Sarah Ravankhah Alireza Zare Bahareh Izadi Shant Apelian Eghbal Sekhavati Reza Tabrizi Reza Tabrizi |
| author_facet | Yasamin Zahedi Shayan Bonyanpour Seyed Danial Alizadeh Sarah Ravankhah Alireza Zare Bahareh Izadi Shant Apelian Eghbal Sekhavati Reza Tabrizi Reza Tabrizi |
| author_sort | Yasamin Zahedi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionTo evaluate the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and risk of infertility in human participants.MethodsA 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.ResultsOf 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.ConclusionThese 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.Systematic review registrationThis systematic review is registered in PROSPERO with code: CRD42024567145. URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024567145. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4e3444f3bb474b0bbda48628a8d022c5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-861X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-4e3444f3bb474b0bbda48628a8d022c52025-08-26T04:13:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-08-011210.3389/fnut.2025.15997821599782Association between the dietary inflammatory index and infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysisYasamin Zahedi0Shayan Bonyanpour1Seyed Danial Alizadeh2Sarah Ravankhah3Alireza Zare4Bahareh Izadi5Shant Apelian6Eghbal Sekhavati7Reza Tabrizi8Reza Tabrizi9Student Research Committee, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, IranStudent Research Committee, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, IranSina Trauma and Surgery Research Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranYasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, IranShiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranHealth Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United StatesHealth Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranNoncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, IranClinical Research Development Unit, Valiasr Hospital, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, IranIntroductionTo evaluate the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and risk of infertility in human participants.MethodsA 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.ResultsOf 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.ConclusionThese 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.Systematic review registrationThis systematic review is registered in PROSPERO with code: CRD42024567145. URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024567145.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1599782/fullinfertilityimmunonutrition dietdietary inflammatory indexinflammationdiet |
| spellingShingle | Yasamin Zahedi Shayan Bonyanpour Seyed Danial Alizadeh Sarah Ravankhah Alireza Zare Bahareh Izadi Shant Apelian Eghbal Sekhavati Reza Tabrizi Reza Tabrizi Association between the dietary inflammatory index and infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis Frontiers in Nutrition infertility immunonutrition diet dietary inflammatory index inflammation diet |
| title | Association between the dietary inflammatory index and infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Association between the dietary inflammatory index and infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Association between the dietary inflammatory index and infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between the dietary inflammatory index and infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Association between the dietary inflammatory index and infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | association between the dietary inflammatory index and infertility a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | infertility immunonutrition diet dietary inflammatory index inflammation diet |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1599782/full |
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