Dietary inflammatory index and Mediterranean Diet in female reproductive health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of dietary inflammatory potential
Abstract
Introduction: Female reproductive health is increasingly affected by conditions such as infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and endometriosis. Given the impact of modifiable lifestyle factors, nutrition has emerged as a potential preventive strategy. The Mediterranean Diet, characterised by high contents of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, may influence ovarian function, hormonal regulation, and reproductive outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the association between adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and female reproductive health.
Methodology: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261295562). PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and CINAHL databases were searched. Methodological quality was independently assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. A meta-analysis of odds ratios was performed using the inverse variance method, and heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q and I 2 statistics.
Results: Fifteen unique studies were included in the systematic review and qualitative synthesis, of which two were eligible for quantitative meta-analysis. Higher dietary inflammatory potential, assessed by the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), was associated with an increased risk of female infertility (OR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.23-2.34; p = 0.0013), with no observed heterogeneity (I 2 = 0%). Qualitative evidence suggested that greater adherence to the Mediterranean Diet was…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
Read the paper
Related studies
- eggNOG 5.0: a hierarchical, functionally and phylogenetically annotated orthology resource based on 5090 organisms and 2502 viruses
- Online Survival Analysis Software to Assess the Prognostic Value of Biomarkers Using Transcriptomic Data in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
- OptiType: precision HLA typing from next-generation sequencing data
- Nicotinic Cholinergic System and COVID-19: In Silico Identification of an Interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and Nicotinic Receptors with Potential Therapeutic Targeting Implications
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells have three Omega class glutathione S-transferases acting as 1-Cys thiol transferases
- Hemolysis at low blood flow rates: in-vitro and in-silico evaluation of a centrifugal blood pump
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.