Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40222450›Full record

ArticleThe American journal of clinical nutrition2025

Dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids, their food sources and fertility in females and males: a preconception prospective population-based cohort study.

Mireille C Schipper, Vincent Wv Jaddoe, Eline L Bekkers, Annemarie Gmgj Mulders, Romy Gaillard

Abstract read
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Article in The American journal of clinical nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Mireille C SchipperThe 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.
Vincent Wv JaddoeThe 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.
Eline L BekkersThe Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Annemarie Gmgj MuldersDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Romy GaillardThe 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. Electronic address: r.gaillard@erasmusmc.nl.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSeafood, nuts, and seeds are key dietary sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which may benefit reproductive health.

objectivesThis 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.

methodsAmong 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.

resultsIn 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.

conclusionsIn 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.

Indexed as

DietFatty Acids, UnsaturatedFertilityAdultCohort StudiesFatty Acids, Omega-3Fatty Acids, Omega-6FemaleHumansMaleNutsPregnancyProspective StudiesSeafoodSeedsYoung AdultFatty Acids, Omega-3Fatty Acids, Omega-6Fatty Acids, Unsaturatedfertilitynutsomega-3omega-6PUFAseafood

Identifiers

PMID40222450
PMCPMC12226746

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.