Intake of Sugar-sweetened Beverages and Fecundability in a North American Preconception Cohort. Issue 3 (May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hatch, Elizabeth E.; Wesselink, Amelia K.; Hahn, Kristen A.; Michiel, James J.; Mikkelsen, Ellen M.; Sorensen, Henrik Toft; Rothman, Kenneth J.; Wise, Lauren A.
• Is Part Of: Epidemiology. Volume 29:Issue 3(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-05
• Subjects: Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 614.405
• DOI: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000000812
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1044-3983

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Dietary factors, including sugar-sweetened beverages, may have adverse effects on fertility. Sugar-sweetened beverages were associated with poor semen quality in cross-sectional studies, and female soda intake has been associated with lower fecundability in some studies. Methods: We evaluated the association of female and male sugar-sweetened beverage intake with fecundability among 3, 828 women planning pregnancy and 1, 045 of their male partners in a North American prospective cohort study. We followed participants until pregnancy or for up to 12 menstrual cycles. Eligible women were aged 21–45 (male partners ≥21), attempting conception for ⩽6 cycles, and not using fertility treatments. Participants completed a comprehensive baseline questionnaire, including questions on sugar-sweetened beverage consumption during the previous 4 weeks. We estimated time-to-pregnancy from follow-up questionnaires completed every 2 months by the female partner. We calculated adjusted fecundability ratios (FR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) according to intake of sugar- sweetened beverages using proportional probabilities regression. Results: Both female and male intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages were associated with reduced fecundability (FR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.70, 0.94 and 0.78; 95% CI = 0.63, 0.95 for ≥7 sugar-sweetened beverages per week compared with none, for females and males, respectively). Fecundability was further reduced among those who drank ≥7 servings per week of sugar-sweetened sodas (FR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.59, 0.95 for females and 0.67, 95% CI = 0.51, 0.89 for males). Conclusions: Sugar-sweetened beverages, particularly sodas and energy drinks, were associated with lower fecundability, but diet soda and fruit juice had little association. Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.