Healthy eating index and risk of diminished ovarian reserve: a case-control study

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is associated with reduced fertility and poor reproductive outcomes. The association between dietary patterns and DOR was not well studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between adhering to the healthy eating index (HEI-2015) and the risk of DOR. In this case-control study, 370 Iranian women (120 with DOR and 250 age- and BMI-matched controls) were examined. A reliable semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to collect diet-related data. We analyzed the HEI-2015 and their dietary intake data to determine major dietary patterns. The multivariable logistic regression was used in order to analyze the association between HEI-2015 and risk of DOR. We found no significant association between HEI-2015 score and risk of DOR in the unadjusted model (OR 0.78; 95%CI 0.59, 1.03). After controlling for physical activity and energy intake, we observed that women in the highest quartile of the HEI-2015 score had 31% decreased odds of DOR (OR 0.69; 95%CI 0.46, 0.93). This association remained significant even after adjusting for all potential confounders. Overall, increased adherence to HEI may lead to a significant reduction in the odds ratio of DOR. Clinical trials and prospective studies are needed to confirm this association.