Dietary Patterns and Fertility

Simple Summary The link between diet and fertility has already been unraveled. Lifestyle, in particular a healthy diet, may improve fertility both in men and in women. Worldwide diet has changed, and this condition may partially explain the reduced global fertility rate. This review analyzes the principal different dietary patterns and their influences on fertility. Specifically, the Mediterranean diet seems to have a positive influence on fertility, while the Western diet and Westernized diets (such as Middle Eastern and Asian diets) seem to have a negative influence on fertility. Summarizing the results, a diet rich in saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, animal proteins, and carbohydrates with a high glycemic index is strictly correlated with male and female infertility. On the contrary, a diet rich in plant proteins, vegetables, fruits, and antioxidants (carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, flavonoids, and polyphenols) may improve fertility. The examination of the molecular mechanisms by which different diets impact fertility may lead to more personalized treatments in infertile couples. Moreover, these results may encourage public health policies that promote healthy dietary patterns.Abstract Diet has a key role in the reproductive axis both in males and females. This review aims to analyze the impacts of different dietary patterns on fertility. It appears that the Mediterranean diet has a predominantly protective role against infertility, while the Western diet seems to be a risk factor for infertility. Moreover, we focus attention also on dietary patterns in different countries of the World (Middle Eastern diet, Asian diet). In particular, when analyzing single nutrients, a diet rich in saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, animal proteins, and carbohydrates with high glycemic index is highly associated with male and female infertility. Finally, we evaluate the effects of vegetarian, vegan, and ketogenic diets on fertility, which seem to be still unclear. We believe that comprehension of the molecular mechanisms involved in infertility will lead to more effective and targeted treatments for infertile couples.