A new study reveals that following a Mediterranean diet may significantly improve pregnancy outcomes for women undergoing fertility treatments like artificial insemination. The research, led by scientists at the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA) in Spain, analyzed the vaginal microbiota of 104 women with primary infertility.
The findings show that women who adhered to the Mediterranean diet had a vaginal microbiome dominated by Lactobacillus bacteria, which creates a stable, healthy environment conducive to implantation and pregnancy maintenance. In contrast, those who did not achieve pregnancy had higher levels of Gardnerella vaginalis, a bacterium linked to microbial imbalances.
The study also identified distinct microbial profiles between women who carried pregnancies to term and those who experienced miscarriages. Researchers emphasized that a lower vaginal microbial diversity, when dominated by Lactobacillus, indicates stability and health rather than imbalance.
Lead researcher María Carmen Collado stated, "The adoption of healthy dietary patterns may be a modifiable factor in improving the success of fertility treatments." The Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, and olive oil, provides micronutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E, beta-carotene, calcium, and zinc, which protect against bacterial vaginosis.
The use of machine learning algorithms helped correlate diet with reproductive outcomes, suggesting that lifestyle interventions could become a complementary tool in assisted reproduction. Co-author Mar Gimeno noted that the high consumption of these nutrient-dense foods plays a protective role against vaginal disorders.
This study highlights that fertility depends not only on hormonal and genetic factors but also on modifiable elements like diet and vaginal microbiota, which could serve as a predictive biomarker for artificial insemination success.