Mediterranean Diet Linked to Improved Vaginal Microbiota and Pregnancy Outcomes in Infertility Study

Women following the Mediterranean diet showed more favorable vaginal microbial profiles that support the implantation and maintenance of pregnancy, according to a study of 104 women with primary infertility. Euronews reported that the research, led by scientists at the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA), part of Spain's National Research Council (CSIC), involved participation from Doctor Peset Hospital in Valencia, Spain.

The findings highlight how the diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish and olive oil, contributes to modulating the vaginal microbiota.

The research team analyzed the vaginal microbiota of these women, aged between 18 and 38, using genetic sequencing. Participants were unable to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of sexual intercourse and adopted the Mediterranean diet, assessed through a validated questionnaire.

The team classified each woman's vaginal microbiota into different types based on predominant microorganisms, paying special attention to the genus Lactobacillus.

Lactobacillus bacteria act as a protective shield for the vaginal environment and promote reproductive health. Researchers correlated this microbiota information with diet and reproductive outcomes using a machine learning algorithm. The study shows that women adhering to the Mediterranean diet have microbial profiles more conducive to successful pregnancy.

"A lower vaginal microbial diversity during pregnancy, unlike what happens with the intestinal microbiota, does not necessarily imply an imbalance, but is usually associated with a state of stability and health, especially when bacteria of the Lactobacillus genus predominate," said María Carmen Collado, a CSIC researcher in the Mainbiotics laboratory at IATA who led the study.

This stability aligns with the diet's influence on microbiota balance. Collado added that the adoption of healthy dietary patterns may be a modifiable factor in improving the success of fertility treatments.

Micronutrients abundant in the Mediterranean diet, including vitamins A, C, D and E, beta-carotene, calcium and zinc, appear linked to protective effects. "Some micronutrients present in abundance in foods typical of the Mediterranean diet, such as vitamins A, C, D and E, beta-carotene, calcium and zinc, appear to play a protective role against bacterial vaginosis, the most common vaginal disorder in women of reproductive age, characterised by an imbalance in the vaginal microbiota," said Mar Gimeno, a specialist in gynaecology and obstetrics at the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, previously at the Hospital Dr.

Peset.

The study's emphasis on these micronutrients underscores their role in fostering a healthier vaginal environment. Elia García Verdevio, a gynaecologist who participated in the study, stated that this research opens the door to considering vaginal microbiota as a possible predictive marker of fertility.

The high consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish and olive oil in the Mediterranean diet directly contributes to these microbial modulations. Euronews reported that such eating habits could become a complementary tool to improve success rates in assisted reproduction treatments.

This is particularly relevant amid Western lifestyles involving stress, unhealthy diets and antibiotic use, which can alter vaginal microbiota balance and affect reproductive health.

Fertility does not depend solely on hormonal or genetic factors, the study indicates, but also on modifiable elements like diet and vaginal microbiota. These could serve as useful biomarkers for predicting artificial insemination success. The research team's use of machine learning to identify patterns favoring pregnancy reinforces the diet's potential role in reproductive health strategies.