Is there a role for diet in ameliorating the reproductive sequelae associated with chronic low-grade inflammation in polycystic ovary syndrome and obesity?

A 2013 ASRM committee opinion titled “Optimizing natural fertility” stated that “there is little evidence that dietary variations such as vegetarian diets, low-fat diets, vitamin-enriched diets, antioxidants, or herbal remedies improve fertility ….” However, there are emerging epidemiologic data demonstrating that certain components of the diet may influence reproductive health outcomes. Furthermore, translational work with human specimens and animal models lends biologic plausibility to the epidemiologic data, particularly in the context of female reproductive diseases associated with inflammation, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and obesity. How to best apply these data clinically for improved reproductive outcomes remains to be determined. In this review, we outline a role for chronic inflammation in the reproductive sequelae of PCOS and obesity and we summarize epidemiologic and translational work demonstrating a potential role for diet in the regulation of inflammatory processes associated with these disorders. These studies identify areas for future research and potential clinical intervention in women affected by the reproductive sequelae of PCOS and obesity.