US EditionUltra processed foods linked to infertility and pregnancy issues, study says
Higher male ultra-processed food intake is linked to longer time to pregnancy and slightly lower fertility, based on a Dutch study of 651 couples published in Human Reproduction.
- On Tuesday, researchers at Erasmus University Medical Center published a study in Human Reproduction linking high ultra-processed food intake to male subfertility and smaller embryonic development in women.
- Dr. Romy Gaillard's team analyzed 831 women and 651 male partners, finding ultra-processed foods averaged 22 per cent of women's diets and 25 per cent of men's; the observational study cannot prove causality.
- Potential chemical exposures from packaging—phthalates and BPA—may disrupt hormonal pathways and impair sperm quality beyond simple caloric effects, according to co-author Angelina Baric.
- Experts like Professor Kevin McConway urge caution, noting wide statistical margins of error often include zero, raising concerns that findings could cause undue distress for couples trying to conceive.
- Established advice prioritizing balanced diets, exercise, and smoking cessation remains more strongly linked to fertility outcomes; further research is needed to confirm whether reducing ultra-processed food intake specifically improves conception.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Study connects ultra-processed diets to fertility and embryo development
Eating large amounts of ultra-processed food (UPF) is linked not only to reduced fertility in men, but also to slower growth in early embryos, and smaller yolk sacs, which are essential for early embryonic development, according to new research.
Ultra-processed foods may impact men's fertility and developing embryos, study finds
Both men and women should probably avoid ultra-processed foods when trying to have a baby, according to a new study of 651 couples from Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The findings, published March 24 in the journal Human Reproduction, found lower fertility in men who ate more ultra-processed foods in their diets, while women with such diets had slower-growing embryos during pregnancy and smaller yolk sacs to nourish the embryos during early deve…
Ultraprocessed reduce male fertility and affect embryonic development, according to a scientific study that puts figures to a silent problem that is already part of the usual diet in many countries. Research, led by Erasmus University in Rotterdam and published in Human Reproduction, shows that these foods not only influence the ability to conceive, but also the early development of the embryo, with detectable effects from the first weeks of ges…
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