Relevance of Infertility, Epigenetics, Nutrient, and Bioactive Components: A Review of the Literature

Background: This review discusses epigenetic mechanisms and the relationship of infertility in men and women in relation to parameters pertaining to nutrition. Methods: A review of the line of the literature was conducted prior to June 2021 through the selected websites, including MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, www.ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Central, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and the WHO. Results: The prevalence of infertility worldwide is 8-12%, and one out of every 8 couples receives medical treatment. Epigenetic mechanisms, aging, environmental factors, dietary energy and nutrients and non-nutrient compounds; more or less energy intake, and methionine play a role in the onset of infertility. Furthermore, more factors that contribute to infertility include the vitamins B12, D, and B6, biotin, choline, selenium, zinc, folic acid, resveratrol, quercetin, and others. Discussion: To understand the molecular mechanisms regulating the expression of genes that affect infertility, the environment, the role of genotype, age, health, nutrition, and changes in the individual's epigenotype must first be considered. This will pave the way for the identification of the unknown causes of infertility. Insufficient or excessive intake of energy and certain macro and micronutrients may contribute to the occurrence of infertility as well. In addition, it is reported that 5-10% of body weight loss, moderate physical activity and nutritional interventions for improvement in insulin sensitivity contribute to the development of fertility. Conclusion: Epigenetic processes involve inherited changes but not encoded by the DNA sequence itself. Nutrition is thought to affect the epigenetic mechanisms that play a role in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including infertility. Epigenetic mechanisms of individuals with infertility are different from healthy individuals. Infertility is associated with epigenetic mechanisms, nutrients, bioactive components and numerous other factors.