According to Gram Research analysis, a 2026 cross-sectional study of 2,036 Iranian women found that eating more inflammatory foods is associated with a 29% higher risk of infertility for each point increase on the Dietary Inflammatory Index. Women who reported infertility had significantly higher inflammatory diet scores than fertile women. While this connection suggests diet’s inflammatory potential may affect reproductive health, the study design cannot prove causation, and further research is needed to confirm whether changing to anti-inflammatory foods actually improves fertility.
A new study of over 2,000 Iranian women found that eating foods that cause inflammation in the body may make it harder to get pregnant. Researchers used a special scoring system called the Dietary Inflammatory Index to measure how inflammatory different diets are. Women who ate more inflammatory foods had higher rates of infertility. While this doesn’t prove that diet causes infertility, it suggests that the foods we choose might play a role in reproductive health. The findings add to growing evidence that inflammation throughout the body could affect a woman’s ability to conceive.
Key Statistics
A 2026 cross-sectional analysis of 2,036 Iranian women found that each one-unit increase in the Dietary Inflammatory Index was associated with 29% higher odds of infertility after adjusting for age, weight, smoking, and other factors.
Among 2,036 women aged 35-45 in the Fasa Adults Cohort Study, 595 women (29.2%) reported a history of infertility, and those with infertility had significantly higher Dietary Inflammatory Index scores than fertile women.
A 2026 study published in BMC Nutrition found that the association between inflammatory diet and female infertility remained statistically significant even after accounting for body mass index, waist circumference, smoking status, and total energy intake.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether eating foods that cause inflammation in the body is connected to difficulty getting pregnant in women.
- Who participated: 2,036 women aged 35-45 years old from Iran who were part of a larger health study. About 29% of them reported having trouble getting pregnant.
- Key finding: Women who ate more inflammatory foods had a 29% higher chance of infertility for each point increase on the inflammation diet score, even after accounting for weight, smoking, and other factors.
- What it means for you: If you’re trying to get pregnant, choosing anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, vegetables, and fish instead of processed foods might help. However, this study shows a connection, not proof that diet causes infertility. Talk to your doctor about your diet and fertility concerns.
The Research Details
Researchers looked at information from 2,036 women in Iran who were part of a long-term health study. They asked women detailed questions about everything they ate using a 118-item food questionnaire. From these answers, they calculated a special score called the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) that measures how much inflammation different foods might cause in the body.
Women were divided into groups based on their DII scores—some had diets that caused more inflammation, while others had diets that caused less. The researchers then compared how many women in each group reported having trouble getting pregnant (defined as not being able to conceive after 12 months of trying). They used statistical methods to account for other factors that might affect fertility, like age, weight, smoking, and education level.
This type of study is called cross-sectional, which means researchers took a snapshot of information at one point in time rather than following women over many years.
Understanding how diet affects fertility is important because diet is something women can actually change. Unlike genetic factors, what we eat is within our control. If inflammation from food really does affect fertility, then helping women choose less inflammatory foods could be a practical way to improve their chances of getting pregnant. This research is especially important for women in Middle Eastern populations, where there hasn’t been much previous research on this topic.
The study was fairly large with over 2,000 participants, which is a strength. The researchers used a validated food questionnaire, meaning it’s a tool that has been tested and proven reliable. They also adjusted their results for many other factors that could affect fertility. However, because this is a cross-sectional study, it only shows a connection at one point in time—it doesn’t prove that diet causes infertility. The study also relied on women remembering what they ate and self-reporting infertility, which could introduce errors. The findings need to be confirmed with studies that follow women over time.
What the Results Show
Among the 2,036 women studied, 595 (about 29%) reported a history of infertility. Women with infertility had higher average Dietary Inflammatory Index scores compared to women who could get pregnant, suggesting they ate more inflammatory foods overall.
When researchers first looked at the data without adjusting for other factors, the connection between diet inflammation and infertility wasn’t statistically significant. However, when they accounted for other important factors like age, weight, smoking status, education level, and total calories eaten, a clear pattern emerged: for each one-point increase in the Dietary Inflammatory Index score, women had 29% higher odds of infertility.
This association was strong and remained consistent even after adjusting for multiple factors. The finding suggests that the inflammatory potential of diet is independently related to female infertility, meaning diet’s effect on inflammation appears separate from its effect on weight or other factors.
The study found that the relationship between inflammatory diet and infertility held true across different groups of women, suggesting it’s not just affecting one particular type of woman. The researchers also noted that the connection remained significant even after accounting for waist circumference and total energy intake, which are measures related to body composition and overall calorie consumption.
This research adds to growing evidence that chronic low-grade inflammation throughout the body may interfere with reproductive function. Previous studies have shown that inflammation affects many aspects of health, and this is one of the first studies to specifically examine the link between dietary inflammation and female infertility in a Middle Eastern population. The findings align with what scientists know about how inflammation can disrupt hormones and reproductive processes.
The biggest limitation is that this study only captured information at one point in time, so researchers can’t prove that eating inflammatory foods actually causes infertility—only that they’re connected. Women reported their own infertility and diet from memory, which can be inaccurate. The study was done in Iran, so results may not apply to women in other parts of the world with different diets and genetics. The researchers also couldn’t measure actual inflammation markers in the blood, only estimated inflammation based on diet. Finally, the study didn’t account for male partner factors, which also affect fertility.
The Bottom Line
If you’re trying to get pregnant, consider eating more anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and nuts, while limiting processed foods, sugary drinks, and red meat. This dietary approach may support reproductive health, though it’s not a guaranteed fertility treatment. Moderate confidence: the evidence suggests a connection, but more research is needed. Combine dietary changes with regular medical checkups and discuss fertility concerns with your doctor.
Women trying to get pregnant should pay attention to these findings, especially if they’re over 35 or have been trying to conceive for more than a year. Women with a family history of infertility or inflammatory conditions may find this particularly relevant. However, these findings shouldn’t replace medical evaluation for infertility—if you’ve been trying to get pregnant for 12 months without success (or 6 months if you’re over 35), see a fertility specialist.
Changes to diet can begin reducing inflammation in the body within weeks, but fertility improvements may take several months to become apparent. Most experts recommend giving dietary changes at least 3-6 months before expecting to see effects on fertility. Remember that diet is just one factor affecting fertility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can changing my diet help me get pregnant?
A 2026 study of 2,036 women found that eating more anti-inflammatory foods was associated with lower infertility rates. While diet alone isn’t a fertility treatment, eating more fruits, vegetables, and fish while limiting processed foods may support reproductive health. Consult a fertility specialist for personalized advice.
What foods cause inflammation that might affect fertility?
Foods that increase inflammation include processed items, sugary drinks, red meat, and refined grains. Research shows women eating these foods had higher infertility rates. Anti-inflammatory alternatives include fish, legumes, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil.
How long does it take for diet changes to improve fertility?
While inflammation in the body can begin decreasing within weeks of dietary changes, fertility improvements typically take 3-6 months to appear. Most experts recommend maintaining anti-inflammatory eating for at least this period before expecting reproductive benefits.
Is this study proof that diet causes infertility?
No. This cross-sectional study shows a connection between inflammatory diet and infertility but cannot prove causation. Researchers studied women at one point in time, not over years. More research following women over time is needed to confirm whether diet actually causes infertility.
Does this research apply to women outside of Iran?
The study was conducted in Iran, so results may not directly apply to all populations with different diets and genetics. However, the underlying science about inflammation and reproductive health is relevant globally. Discuss how these findings apply to your situation with your doctor.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily food choices using a simple inflammation score (1-10) based on whether meals contain mostly anti-inflammatory foods (fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains) or pro-inflammatory foods (processed items, sugary drinks, red meat). Aim to average 5 or lower throughout the week.
- Set a weekly goal to replace 2-3 meals containing processed or red meat with meals featuring fish, legumes, or plant-based proteins paired with colorful vegetables. Log these swaps in the app to build the habit.
- Create a monthly dashboard showing the percentage of meals that were anti-inflammatory, trends in your inflammation score, and any changes in how you feel. Correlate this with other fertility-related tracking (cycle regularity, energy levels) to identify patterns over 3-6 month periods.
This article summarizes research findings and should not be considered medical advice. The study shows an association between inflammatory diet and infertility but does not prove causation. If you’re having difficulty conceiving, consult with a fertility specialist or reproductive endocrinologist for proper evaluation and personalized treatment recommendations. Dietary changes should complement, not replace, medical care for infertility. Individual results vary, and diet is one of many factors affecting fertility.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.