Female dietary antioxidant intake and time to pregnancy among couples treated for unexplained infertility

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 101; no. 3; pp. 759 - 766
• Main Authors: Ruder, Elizabeth H., Ph.D., M.P.H, Hartman, Terryl J., Ph.D., M.P.H, Reindollar, Richard H., M.D, Goldman, Marlene B., Sc.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-03-2014
• Subjects: Adult; antioxidants; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Cohort Studies; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Female; Humans; Infertility, Female - drug therapy; Infertility, Female - epidemiology; Internal Medicine; Live Birth - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; nutritional epidemiology; Obstetrics and Gynecology; oxidative stress; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Time-to-Pregnancy - drug effects; Time-to-Pregnancy - physiology; Treatment Outcome; unexplained infertility; Young Adult; unexplained infertility; Diet; antioxidants; oxidative stress; nutritional epidemiology
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.11.008

Objective To determine whether increased antioxidant intake in women is associated with shorter time to pregnancy (TTP) among a cohort of couples being treated for unexplained infertility. Design Secondary data analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Setting Academic medical center associated with a private infertility center. Patients Females with unexplained infertility. Interventions None. Main Outcome Measure(s) The time it took to establish a pregnancy that led to a live birth. Result(s) Mean nutrient intake exceeded the estimated average requirement (EAR) for vitamins C and E. No differences in mean intake of any of the antioxidants were noted between women who delivered a live-born infant during the study period vs. those who did not. In multivariable models, intake of β-carotene from dietary supplements was associated with shorter TTP among women with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09–1.53) and women <35 y (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.01–1.41). Intake of vitamin C from dietary supplements was associated with shorter TTP among women with BMI <25 kg/m2 (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03–1.15) and women <35 y (HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02–1.18). Intake of vitamin E from dietary supplements among women ≥35 y also was associated with shorter TTP (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.13). Conclusion(s) Shorter TTP was observed among women with BMI <25 kg/m2 with increasing vitamin C, women with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 with increasing β-carotene, women <35 y with increasing β-carotene and vitamin C, and women ≥35 y with increasing vitamin E. Clinical Trial Registration Number NCT00260091.