Overview
- Erasmus University researchers, in a study published Tuesday in Human Reproduction, report that higher intake of ultraprocessed foods is tied to longer time to pregnancy in men and to slightly slower embryo growth in mothers.
- The prospective analysis followed 651 men and 831 pregnant women in the Netherlands from 2017 to 2021 within the Generation R cohort, using early ultrasounds at weeks 7, 9, and 11.
- Women's intake did not clearly affect the time to conceive, yet embryos showed a smaller yolk sac and slightly shorter head‑to‑bottom length by about week seven.
- Ultraprocessed foods were classified with the NOVA system and include industrial products high in added sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats with many additives, and their share of diets can reach 50% to 60% in the US and UK.
- The team urges caution because the study is observational and recommends modest cutbacks on ultraprocessed foods around conception as they seek replication and biological explanations.