Table 1.
Components and scoring system of the Pro-Fertility Diet.
| Component | Definition | Quartile Scoring |
|---|---|---|
| Supplemental folic acid (μg/day) | Total folic acid intake from non-food sources | Q1 (1 pt): 0-399 Q2 (2pt): 400-500 Q3 (3pt): 501-800 Q4 (4pt): 801-2400 |
| Vitamin B12 (μg/day) | Energy adjusted total B12 intake from diet and supplements | Q1 (1 pt): 0-8.9 Q2 (2pt): 9.0-11.7 Q3 (3pt): 11.8-15.8 Q4 (4pt): 15.9-947 |
| Vitamin D (IU/day) | Energy adjusted total vitamin D from food and supplements | Q1 (1 pt): 61-463 Q2 (2pt): 464-578 Q3 (3pt): 579-843 Q4 (4pt): 844-3847 |
| Low pesticide fruits and vegetables1 (servings/day) | Fruits and vegetables scoring <4 on the PRBS scale | Q1 (1 pt): 0.3-1.6 Q2 (2pt): 1.7-2.4 Q3 (3pt): 2.5-3.5 Q4 (4pt): 3.6-11.5 |
| High pesticide fruits and vegetables2 (servings/day) | Fruits and vegetables scoring ≥4 on the PRBS scale | Q1 (4pt): 0.2-1.0 Q2 (3pt): 1.1-1.5 Q3 (2pt): 1.6-2.2 Q4 (1 pt): 2.3-6.8 |
| Whole grains (g/day) | Total dry weight of whole grain in all grain-containing foods (rice, bread, pasta, and breakfast cereals) | Q1 (1 pt): 0.4-20.6 Q2 (2pt): 20.7-33.1 Q3 (3pt): 33.2-50.9 Q4 (4pt): 51.0-196 |
| Ratio of seafood to total meat intake | All fish and shellfish intake divided by total intake of red, processed, and organ meats, chicken, and seafood | Q1 (1 pt): 0-0.11 Q2 (2pt): 0.12-0.18 Q3 (3pt): 0.19-0.32 Q4 (4pt): 0.32-1.00 |
| Dairy (servings/day) | All milk, yogurt, cream, cheese, and ice cream | Q1 (1 pt): 0-1.2 Q2 (2pt): 1.3-1.8 Q3 (3pt): 1.9-2.6 Q4 (4pt): 2.7-6.2 |
| Soy foods (servings/day) | Tofu, tempeh, miso soup, soy meat substitutes, soy dairy products, soy beans & nuts, and soy protein drinks & bars | Q1 (1 pt): 0 Q2 (2pt): 0.01-0.09 Q3 (3pt): 0.10-0.27 Q4 (4pt): 0.28-7.45 |
| Range of Pro-Fertility Diet Score: 9-36 points | ||
Abbreviations: PRBS, pesticide residual based scoring.
Low pesticide fruits and vegetables include: peas or lima beans, dried plums or prunes, onions, beans or lentils, avocado, corn, cabbage or cole slaw, orange juice, tomato sauce, apple juice or cider, cauliflower, grapefruit, cantaloupe, tofu, bananas, eggplant, summer squash, zucchini, yam or sweet potatoes, oranges, broccoli, carrots, head lettuce, and leaf lettuce.
High pesticide fruits and vegetables include: tomatoes, apple sauce, blueberries, kale, mustard, or chard greens, winter squash, fresh apples or pears, string beans, grapes or raisins, potatoes, raw or cooked spinach, peaches or plums, strawberries, celery, and green, yellow, or red bell peppers.