The Anti-Inflammatory diet: key to improving fertility and reducing pregnancy complications

Adopting healthy eating habits can make a significant difference on the path to motherhood and fatherhood. This is emphasized by Beatriz Santamaría Jaramillo, immunologist dietitian-nutritionist at Ruber Internacional Medical Center Habana, who highlights the role of immunomodulatory nutrition as a key component in the comprehensive approach to infertility. "Diet is a modifiable factor that allows couples to take an active role in their fertility treatment. It not only provides nutrients but also regulates the immune system and reduces inflammation—two processes directly involved in reproductive capacity," Santamaría explains. Scientific evidence shows that high-quality dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet or anti-inflammatory diets, are associated with greater fecundability and improved rates of clinical pregnancy and live birth, both in natural conception and assisted reproduction treatments. "We know that women who follow a healthy diet during the preconception stage experience fewer fertility problems, and this effect is also seen in men, with a significant improvement in semen quality," notes the specialist from the team led by Dr. Silvia Sánchez Ramón, Head of the Clinical Immunology Department at Hospital Ruber Internacional. These dietary patterns are characterized by high consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, and olive oil, along with low intake of ultra-processed foods, red meats, and trans fats. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the so-called Western Diet, which is associated with a higher risk of infertility in both women and men. Diet as a Modulator of the Immune System Although the exact mechanisms are still under investigation, one of the main links between diet and fertility appears to be chronic low-grade inflammation, which is involved in ovulatory disorders, gamete quality, and embryo implantation. "Today we know that what we traditionally called a ‘healthy diet’ has a profound immunomodulatory effect. Reducing systemic inflammation is key to optimizing ovarian function and creating the right environment for implantation," Santamaría states. A meta-analysis published in 2025, including more than 17,000 participants, confirmed that women who follow more anti-inflammatory dietary patterns experience significantly fewer fertility problems than those with pro-inflammatory diets. In this context, the Mediterranean diet stands out as the model with the strongest scientific evidence. Fewer Complications During Pregnancy The benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet are not limited to conception. During pregnancy, this type of diet is associated with a lower risk of serious obstetric complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm birth. "These complications share a common denominator: an altered immune response. Diet can help modulate this response and promote a full-term pregnancy under the best possible conditions," the nutritionist explains. On the other hand, despite their popularity, the routine use of nutritional supplements to improve fertility is not currently supported by strong scientific evidence. "Some antioxidants show promising results in very specific profiles, but the evidence is limited. Supplementation should always be individualized and never replace a healthy diet," Beatriz Santamaría warns. Although all couples trying to conceive can benefit from improving their diet, the specialist at Hospital Ruber Internacional highlights certain profiles in which nutritional intervention is especially relevant: couples undergoing fertility treatments, individuals with overweight or metabolic disorders, women with inflammatory conditions such as endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome, men with low semen quality, or cases of unexplained infertility. "Nutrition is a safe tool, with no side effects, and with benefits that go beyond fertility. Integrating it into a multidisciplinary approach is an opportunity to improve the reproductive and overall health of future parents and their baby," she concludes.