Parental dietary patterns and assisted reproductive technology outcomes including embryo morphokinetics: rotterdam periconception cohort

Purpose: 

This exploratory study investigated the associations between dietary patterns of subfertile couples and assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes, including preimplantation embryo morphokinetics. 

Methods: 

From the ongoing Rotterdam periconception cohort, we included 149 women and 126 men attending a fertility outpatient clinic for ART treatment. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated self-reported food frequency questionnaire with implausible dietary reporters excluded. We identified four dietary patterns in women and men separately. Embryo morphokinetics included the timing of each division from two to eight cell stage (t2 to t8) and to blastocyst formation, second and third cell cycle and synchrony, and the Known Implantation Data score on embryonic day 3 (KIDscore D3). ART outcomes included the fertilization rate, embryo yield, clinical pregnancy, and live birth. 

Results: 

Maternal adherence to the “Healthy” pattern was associated with shorter S2 (β_adj −0.62 h, p = 0.024) and higher KIDscore D3 (OR_adj 0.78, p = 0.011), while “Savory Snack and Alcohol” pattern was associated with slower t6 (β_adj 0.869 h, p = 0.014), t7 (β_adj 1.63 h, p < 0.001), and t8 (β_adj 1.52 h, p = 0.01). Paternal adherence to the “Healthy” pattern was associated with faster t7 (β_adj −1.10 h, p = 0.046), t8 (β_adj −2.12 h, p = 0.001), and shorter S3 (β_adj −1.72 h, p = 0.001), while “Potato-rich” pattern was associated with faster t2 (β_adj −0.46 h, p = 0.012). Parental dietary patterns were not associated with ART outcomes. 

Conclusions: 

This study showed small but consistent associations between parental diet and preimplantation embryo morphokinetics, with no overall effects on ART outcomes.