Pesticide Residue Reduces Chances of Pregnancy In Women Using Reproductive Technologies

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by

Andre Broussard, D.C.
in

November 08, 2017
JAMA internal medicine

TAKE-HOME MESSAGE

  • A cohort of 325 women undergoing 541 cycles of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) was assessed to evaluate the association between preconception intake of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables (FVs) and outcomes following infertility treatment. There was an association between greater intake of high-pesticide residue FVs and reduced odds of pregnancy and live birth. Women in the highest quartile of high-pesticide FV intake had an 18% lower chance of pregnancy and a 26% lower chance of live birth compared with women in the lowest quartile. There was no association between intake of low-pesticide residue FVs and outcomes.
  • In women undergoing infertility treatment with ART, consumption of high-pesticide residue FVs was inversely associated with the chance of pregnancy and live birth. Typical exposure to dietary pesticides may impact human reproduction.

Abstract

IMPORTANCE

Animal experiments suggest that ingestion of pesticide mixtures at environmentally relevant concentrations decreases the number of live-born offspring. Whether the same is true in humans is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association of preconception intake of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables (FVs) with outcomes of infertility treatment with assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This analysis included 325 women who completed a diet assessment and subsequently underwent 541 ART cycles in the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) prospective cohort study (2007-2016) at a fertility center at a teaching hospital. We categorized FVs as having high or low pesticide residues using a validated method based on surveillance data from the US Department of Agriculture. Cluster-weighted generalized estimating equations were used to analyze associations of high- and low-pesticide residue FV intake with ART outcomes.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Adjusted probabilities of clinical pregnancy and live birth per treatment cycle.

RESULTS

In the 325 participants (mean [SD] age, 35.1 [4.0] y; body mass index, 24.1 [4.3]), mean (SD) intakes of high- and low-pesticide residue FVs were 1.7 (1.0) and 2.8 (1.6) servings/d, respectively. Greater intake of high-pesticide residue FVs was associated with a lower probability of clinical pregnancy and live birth. Compared with women in the lowest quartile of high-pesticide FV intake (<1.0 servings/d), women in the highest quartile (≥2.3 servings/d) had 18% (95% CI, 5%-30%) lower probability of clinical pregnancy and 26% (95% CI, 13%-37%) lower probability of live birth. Intake of low-pesticide residue FVs was not significantly related to ART outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Higher consumption of high-pesticide residue FVs was associated with lower probabilities of pregnancy and live birth following infertility treatment with ART. These data suggest that dietary pesticide exposure within the range of typical human exposure may be associated with adverse reproductive consequences.

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Journal Abstract