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