Dietary Patterns and Human Reproduction
Voedingspatronen en de Menselijke Voortplanting
THESISMOTIVATION,OBJECTIVESANDANTICIPATEDRESULTSThe communication of healthy food intake via food (based dietary guidelines has shown to be more straightforward and effective than traditional single nutrient advice.
1. To identify patterns in food intake from food frequency questionnaire data by using modern empirical statistical methods, such as principal components factor analysis and re(duced rank regression.
2. To examine the associations between dietary patterns and several biochemical markers, e.g.
folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, homocysteine, S(adenosylmethionine, and S(adenosyl(homocysteine.
3. To assess the relationship between preconceptional dietary patterns and reproductive performance
in men and women,e.g. semen quality, fertility parameters, and chance of pregnancy.
4. To study the effects of periconceptional maternal dietary patterns on the risk of several congenital malformations in the offspring, e.g. spinabifida, congenital heart defects, and orofacial clefts.
With the findings described in this thesis we aim to provide a better understanding of specific dietary patterns that are associated with reproductive performance and chances of pregnancy in subfertile couples.
Furthermore, new insights will be provided on to the degree in which maternal dietary patterns contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes, such as congenital malformations.
Datum publicatie
10 October 10Promotor(s)
prof.dr. R.P.M.Steegers(Theunissenprof.dr. E.A.P.Steegers
prof.dr. P.J. van der Spek