Dietary patterns, physical activity, and nutrient intake among infertile women in an Iranian setting: a cross-sectional study

Infertility affects many women of reproductive age worldwide, and various influencing factors have been identified. This study aimed to determine predominant dietary patterns, physical activity, and nutrient intake affecting fertility among infertile women in Ardabil city in 2024. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 304 infertile women attending infertility centers in Ardabil, Iran, who met the inclusion criteria and provided written informed consent. Simple random sampling was used. Data collection tools included demographic questionnaires, 24-hour dietary recall, a 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and anthropometric measurements. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 27, with significance set at p < 0.05. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Cluster Analysis were applied to identify dietary patterns. The mean age of participants was 30.62 ± 5.95 years, with most having a diploma-level education. Three predominant dietary patterns were revealed: healthy, unhealthy, and mixed. There were no significant differences in age, education, weight, BMI, or physical activity METs among the dietary groups, except for height (p = 0.005), which was higher in the healthy diet group. Total MET scores differed significantly among the three groups (p = 0.032). Significant differences were found in energy intake (p = 0.026), carbohydrates (p < 0.001), protein (p < 0.001), and several micronutrients and vitamins across dietary patterns. There was a statistically significant difference in the intake of iron (p < 0.001), magnesium (p = 0.002), zinc (p = 0.008), vitamin B1 (p < 0.001), niacin (p < 0.001), folic acid (p < 0.001), pentatonic acid (p = 0.002), vitamin C (p < 0.001), vitamin B6 (p < 0.001), and crude fiber (p = 0.001) between healthy, unhealthy, and a mixed of dietary patterns of the studied individuals. The findings indicate that a healthy dietary pattern combined with regular physical activity were associated with healthier diet and activity profiles among infertile women. Therefore, alongside medical treatments, attention to diet and lifestyle is recommended for women facing infertility.