title: Female dietary antioxidant intake and time to pregnancy among couples treated for unexplained infertility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether increased antioxidant intake in women is associated with shorter time to pregnancy (TTP) among a cohort of couples being treated for unexplained infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary data analysis of a randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center associated with a private infertility center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Females with unexplained infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  The time it took to establish a pregnancy that led to a live birth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean nutrient intake exceeded the estimated average requirement (EAR) for vitamins C and E. No differences in mean intake of any of the antioxidants were noted between women who delivered a live-born infant during the study period vs. those who did not. In multivariable models, intake of β-carotene from dietary supplements was associated with shorter TTP among women with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m(2) (hazard ratio [HR] 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-1.53) and women <35 y (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.01-1.41). Intake of vitamin C from dietary supplements was associated with shorter TTP among women with BMI <25 kg/m(2) (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03-1.15) and women <35 y (HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02-1.18). Intake of vitamin E from dietary supplements among women ≥35 y also was associated with shorter TTP (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.13).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shorter TTP was observed among women with BMI <25 kg/m(2) with increasing vitamin C, women with BMI ≥25 kg/m(2) with increasing β-carotene, women <35 y with increasing β-carotene and vitamin C, and women ≥35 y with increasing vitamin E.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT00260091.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: eruder@pitt.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Ruder
authors.affiliation: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Terryl J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire.
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Reindollar
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire; Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire.
authors.forename: Marlene B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050498:Live Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D061685:Time-to-Pregnancy / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants
keywords: Diet; antioxidants; nutritional epidemiology; oxidative stress; unexplained infertility