22 papers reviewed
Fertility Diet, Nutrition & Foods
1993 · randomized crossover trial · 1 of 22
Effect of flax seed ingestion on the menstrual cycle
Phipps WR et al. · Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
10g/day flax meal lengthened luteal phase (12.6 vs 11.4 days, p=0.002) and raised the luteal progesterone/estradiol ratio vs control cycles. Closest mechanistic RCT underpinning the seed cycling concept.
Read the paper ↗2023 · RCT · 2 of 22
Effectiveness of combined seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, flaxseed) as adjacent therapy to treat PCOS in females
Rasheed S et al. · Food Science & Nutrition
Seed-cycling protocol (30g flax+pumpkin days 1-14, 30g sunflower+sesame days 15-28) reduced FSH, LH, TSH, and prolactin, plus induced weight loss vs control over 90 days in 90 PCOS women.
Read the paper ↗2025 · systematic review · 3 of 22
Efficacy of seed cycling as an integrative therapy for PMS and PCOS in reproductive-aged women: a systematic review
Nagarajan DR et al. · Cureus
Seed cycling associated with improved menstrual regularity, reduced PMS severity, and favorable hormone shifts across 10 studies (n=635). Evidence quality moderate with small sample sizes.
Read the paper ↗2016 · prospective cohort · 4 of 22
Changes in macronutrient, micronutrient, and food group intakes throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy, premenopausal women
Gorczyca AM et al. · European Journal of Nutrition
From the BioCycle Study (n=259): total protein, animal protein, and percent calories from protein were highest in mid-luteal phase. Appetite and cravings (chocolate, sweets, salt) peaked in late luteal phase.
Read the paper ↗2026 · integrative review · 5 of 22
An overview of the impact of the menstrual cycle on nutrient metabolism: an integrative perspective
Garcia-Montero C et al. · Nutrients
Follicular phase shows higher insulin sensitivity and carbohydrate tolerance. Luteal phase shows higher energy expenditure, lipid oxidation, and plausibly higher B-vitamin cofactor needs.
Read the paper ↗2007 · prospective cohort · 6 of 22
Diet and lifestyle in the prevention of ovulatory disorder infertility
Chavarro JE et al. · Obstetrics & Gynecology
In 17,544 women over 8 years (Nurses' Health Study II), a fertility diet pattern score (more MUFA vs trans fat, plant vs animal protein, low-glycemic carbs, high-fat dairy, multivitamins, plant iron) was associated with 66% lower ovulatory infertility risk in high vs low adherence.
Read the paper ↗2008 · prospective cohort · 7 of 22
Protein intake and ovulatory infertility
Chavarro JE et al. · American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
In 18,555 women, highest animal-protein intake was associated with 39% higher ovulatory infertility risk. Replacing 5% of calories from animal with vegetable protein linked to >50% lower risk.
Read the paper ↗2021 · systematic review / meta-analysis · 8 of 22
Dietary modification for reproductive health in women with PCOS: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Shang Y et al. · Frontiers in Endocrinology
Across 20 RCTs (n=1,113), dietary intervention improved clinical pregnancy, ovulation, and menstrual regularity rates and reduced miscarriage. Low-carb diets best for reproductive outcomes; calorie restriction best for hyperandrogenism.
Read the paper ↗2022 · narrative evidence review · 9 of 22
Anti-inflammatory diets in fertility: an evidence review
Alesi S et al. · Nutrients
Anti-inflammatory dietary patterns (high MUFA/omega-3, flavonoids, low red/processed meat) associated with improved fertility and ART success.
Read the paper ↗2025 · umbrella review · 10 of 22
Diet and endometriosis: an umbrella review
Neri LCL et al. · Foods
Vegetables (RR 0.59), dairy/cheese, and high-fat dairy associated with lower endometriosis risk. Butter (RR 1.27) and caffeine >300mg/day (RR 1.30) associated with higher risk. Overall evidence quality low.
Read the paper ↗2007 · prospective cohort · 11 of 22
Dietary fatty acid intakes and the risk of ovulatory infertility
Chavarro JE et al. · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Each 2% of energy from trans fat (replacing carbs) increased ovulatory infertility risk 73%. Replacing MUFA with trans fat raised risk 131%. Total fat and cholesterol were unrelated to risk.
Read the paper ↗2017 · meta-analysis · 12 of 22
Female alcohol consumption and fecundability: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis
Fan D et al. · Scientific Reports
Clear dose-response across 19 studies (n=98,657): light drinkers (<=12.5g/day) RR 0.89, moderate-heavy (>12.5g/day) RR 0.77. Each additional 12.5g/day drops fecundability RR by 0.98.
Read the paper ↗2016 · prospective cohort · 13 of 22
Alcohol consumption and fecundability: prospective Danish cohort study
Mikkelsen EM et al. · BMJ
In 6,120 women, <14 drinks/week showed no discernible fertility effect. >=14 drinks/week fecundability ratio dropped to 0.82. Provides a concrete weekly threshold for guidance.
Read the paper ↗2026 · prospective cohort · 14 of 22
Periconceptional ultra-processed food consumption in women and men, fertility, and early embryonic development
Lin CHX et al. · Human Reproduction
No consistent association between women's ultra-processed food intake and fecundability, but male partners' UPF intake was significantly associated with reduced fecundability (OR 1.36 per SD).
Read the paper ↗2022 · prospective cohort · 15 of 22
Preconception caffeine metabolites, caffeinated beverage intake, and fecundability
Purdue-Smithe AC et al. · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Little to no association between serum caffeine biomarkers and fecundability at low-moderate intake in 1,228 women. More reassuring than older self-report-based studies.
Read the paper ↗2021 · cross-sectional · 16 of 22
Urinary bisphenol A concentrations and parameters of ovarian reserve among women from a fertility clinic
Czubacka E et al. · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
BPA detected in 97% of samples. Negative association with AMH (p=0.02) and antral follicle count (p=0.03). Supports reducing BPA exposure from food packaging and plastics.
Read the paper ↗2018 · prospective cohort · 17 of 22
Association between pesticide residue intake from fruits/vegetables and pregnancy outcomes among women undergoing ART
Chiu YH et al. · JAMA Internal Medicine
High-pesticide-residue produce (top vs bottom quartile) associated with 18% lower clinical pregnancy probability and 26% lower live birth probability during ART. Based on the EARTH study (n=325 women, 541 cycles).
Read the paper ↗2020 · prospective cohort · 18 of 22
The association between seafood intake and fecundability: analysis from two prospective studies
Wise LA et al. · Nutrients
Total seafood intake showed minimal association with fecundability in either cohort (n=7,836 combined). Only fried shellfish >=10g/week showed reduced fecundability. Supports 2-3 servings low-mercury fish/week rather than blanket avoidance.
Read the paper ↗2025 · narrative review · 19 of 22
The role of the gut microbiota in female reproductive and gynecological health: insights into endometrial signaling pathways
Escorcia Mora P et al. · Life (Basel)
Establishes the gut-endometrial axis: estrobolome-mediated estrogen recycling, short-chain fatty acids, and immune signaling link gut dysbiosis to endometriosis, PCOS, recurrent implantation failure, and preterm birth.
Read the paper ↗2019 · RCT · 20 of 22
A multicountry randomized controlled trial of comprehensive maternal nutrition supplementation initiated before conception: the Women First trial
Hambidge KM et al. · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
In 7,387 women across 4 countries, supplementation started >=3 months before conception improved birth length-for-age (+0.19 z-score) but showed no significant difference from first-trimester start for most outcomes.
Read the paper ↗2023 · RCT secondary analysis · 21 of 22
Maternal B-vitamin and vitamin D status before, during, and after pregnancy: prespecified secondary analysis of the NiPPeR RCT
Godfrey KM et al. · PLOS Medicine
Enhanced preconception supplement (riboflavin, B6, B12, D, myo-inositol, probiotics, zinc added to standard folic acid/iron/calcium/iodine) starting before conception raised nutrient status within 1 month and cut late-pregnancy vitamin D insufficiency from 35.1% to 8.5%.
Read the paper ↗2025 · prospective observational IVF study · 22 of 22
Preconception diet quality and modified natural cycle in vitro fertilisation outcomes
Faessen J et al. · Journal of Nutritional Science
This study evaluated preconception diet quality in relation to modified natural-cycle IVF outcomes. It adds IVF-specific nutrition evidence but remains observational and should not be interpreted as proof that a particular diet causes higher live birth rates.
Read the paper ↗A paper's presence documents the evidence reviewed; it does not mean Filia endorses every intervention or conclusion.