Infertility is a pressing public health concern on a national scale and has been linked to inflammatory conditions. However, limited research has been conducted on the impact of the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) on female infertility. This study sought to investigate the association between DII and infertility utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
This cross-sectional study included a cohort of 3,071 women aged 20–44 years from three NHANES cycles (2013–2018). Dietary information was collected to calculate the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), while infertility status was determined through positive responses to specific questions in a questionnaire. The association between DII scores and infertility was assessed using adjusted multivariate logistic regression analyses. Subgroup analysis and restricted cubic spline (RCS) was conducted for further investigation.
Among the participants, 354 women (11.53%) were identified as experiencing infertility. Upon adjusting for all covariates, a positive correlation was observed (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.12–2.31). Individuals with DII scores in the highest quartile exhibited significantly greater odds of infertility compared to those in the lowest quartile (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.17–2.51). The relationship between DII and infertility in the RCS models demonstrated an S-shaped curve. When using the median DII as a reference point, a higher DII was associated with an increased prevalence of infertility. Additionally, obesity was found to be a significant factor.
Our research indicated that the DII was positively correlated with an increased likelihood of infertility in American women among the ages of 20 and 44. These results contribute to the existing literature and underscore the need for further validation through larger prospective cohort studies.