Suboptimal glycemic index management is negatively associated with male fertility

1. Suboptimal carbohydrate consumption is negatively associated with male fertility but not female fertility

Evidence Rating Level: 3 (Average) 

Subfertility is the inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse and affects millions of couples globally. Many factors such as age and genetics are non-modifiable, however diet has become the focus of modifiable factors influencing fertility. High glucose levels affect insulin sensitivity, hormonal balance, and ovarian function. Hyperglycemia can also cause oxidative stress which can contribute to subfertility. The glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) are dietary measures that assess carbohydrate quality and intake. High GL or GI diets have been suggested to affect fertility in women and possibly males as well. This prospective cohort study explored associations of periconception dietary GI and GL with subfertility. Dietary information was collected using a questionnaire. The time to pregnancy was also assessed using questionnaires during the preconception period and early pregnancy. Higher dietary GI and GL in women was not associated with fecundability however for men, higher GI and GL was associated with decreased fecundability. This association remained after adjusting for socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, as well as dietary GI or GL of female partners. There was no significant association between the dietary GI and GL in quartiles with fecundability in either women or men. Similarly, low Gi diets showed no significant effect on fecundability or risk of subfertility in men or women. 

Click to read the study in BMC Medicine

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