Shorter Time to Pregnancy With Increasing Preconception Carotene Concentrations Among Women With 1 to 2 Previous Pregnancy Losses

Abstract

Although maternal nutrition may impact fecundity, associations between preconception micronutrients and time to pregnancy (TTP) has not been examined. We assessed the relationship between preconception fat-soluble micronutrient concentrations and TTP among women with 1–2 prior pregnancy losses. This is a prospective cohort study of 1,228 women set in the EAGeR Trial (US, 2007–2011), which assessed the effect of preconception-initiated daily low dose aspirin on reproductive outcomes. We measured preconception zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, lycopene, α- and β-carotene, and α- and γ-tocopherol in serum. We used discrete Cox regression models, accounting for left truncation and right censoring, to calculate fecundability odds ratios (FOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Models were adjusted for age, body mass index, race, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, income, vitamin use, cholesterol, treatment arm, and study site. Serum α-carotene levels (FOR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.36, per log unit [μg/dL] increase), as well as concentrations above versus below the US average (2.92 μg/dL) were associated with shorter TTP (FOR = 1.21 95% CI: 1.02, 1.44). Compared to below the US average (187 μg/dL), γ-tocopherol concentrations above the US average were associated with longer TTP (FOR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.69, 1.00). The potential for these nutrients to influence fecundability deserves further exploration.