Researchers from McMaster University in Canada concluded that regular consumption of ultra-processed foods may reduce the likelihood of pregnancy. This is reported by Nutrition and Health.
The problem of infertility affects millions of women around the world. Its development is usually associated with a whole range of factors, including not only age and health status but also dietary habits.
In the course of the study, specialists examined data from more than 2,500 women aged 20 to 45, obtained as part of a national health and diet assessment project in the United States. Participants reported on their attempts to conceive and detailed their diets. On average, the share of ultra-processed foods in their diet was 27 percent.
Among women with reduced fertility, this figure reached about 30 percent. The analysis showed that as the proportion of such food increases, the likelihood of conception decreases even when accounting for age, body weight, and lifestyle.
The authors of the study suggested that a possible reason lies in the chemical compounds contained in the products themselves or their packaging. This includes, in particular, phthalates, bisphenol A, and acrylamides, which may negatively affect hormonal balance.
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