relations between dietary antioxidant vitamins intake and oxidative stress in follicular fluid and ART outcomes

Oxidative stress [OS] in the follicular environment may affect on oocyte competence and antioxidant vitamins may modify its effects. This study was conducted to examine the effect of dietary intake of vitamin A, C and E on OS in follicular environment and assisted reproduction technology [ART] outcomes. In this obsevationalprospective study, the intake levels of vitamin A, C, and E were matured by validated food frequency questionnaire and Malondialdehyde and the total antioxidant capacity [TAC] levels of follicular fluid [FF] in 219 women undergoing ART were assessed. The number of retrieved oocytes, percentages of metaphase II MII] stage oocytes, fertilization rate, and embryo quality were also determined. No significant association was found between vitamins intake levels and OS biomarkers, but the mean of TAC level in FF among women who received vitamin C greater than 75 mg/d was higher than women with lower intakes [p<0.05]. The ART parameters were not related to the vitamin E intake level, but the normal cleaved embryo rate was positively related to vitamin A [p<0.05] and vitamin C [p=0.02] intake levels. Also, the percentage of MII oocytes [p=0.02] and the fertilization rate [p<0.05] were related to the vitamin C intake level. The relation between the TAC level in FF and ART outcomes were not significant. Current results indicated that high dietary intake of vitamin C would be followed by increasing the TAC level in FF and improving the oocyte competence, but this effect of vitamin C is not dependent of increasing of antioxidant defense in follicular environment

Relationship between dietary fat intake, its major food sources and assisted reproduction parameters

High dietary fat consumption may alter oocyte development and embryonic development. This prospective study was conducted to determine the relation between dietary fat consumption level, its food sources and the assisted reproduction parameters. A prospective study was conducted on 240 infertile women. In assisted reproduction treatment cycle, fat consumption and major food sources over the previous three months were identified. The number of retrieved oocytes, metaphase II stage oocytes numbers, fertilization rate, embryo quality and clinical pregnancy rate were also determined. The data were analyzed using multiple regression, binary logistic regression, chi-square and t-test. The p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Total fat intake adjusted for age, body mass index, physical activity and etiology of infertility was positively associated with the number of retrieved oocytes and inversely associated with the high embryo quality rate. An inverse association was observed between sausage and turkey ham intake and the number of retrieved oocytes. Also, oil intake level had an inverse association with good cleavage rate. The results revealed that higher levels of fat consumption tend to increase the number of retrieved oocytes and were adversely related to embryonic development. Among food sources of fat, vegetable oil, sausage and turkey ham intake may adversely affect assisted reproduction parameters

Does dietary fat intake influence oocyte competence and embryo quality by inducing oxidative stress in follicular fluid?

Fat-rich diet may alter oocyte development and maturation and embryonic development by inducing oxidative stress [OS] in follicular environment To investigate the relationship between fat intake and oxidative stress with oocyte competence and embryo quality. In observational study follicular fluid was collected from 236 women undergoing assisted reproduction program. Malon-di-aldehyde [MDA] levels and total antioxidant capacity [TAC] levels of follicular fluid were assessed as oxidative stress biomarkers. In assisted reproduction treatment cycle fat consumption and its component were assessed. A percentage of metaphase Second stage oocytes, fertilization rate were considered as markers of oocyte competence and non-fragmented embryo rate, mean of blastomer and good cleavage [embryos with more than 5 cells on 3 days post insemination] rate were considered as markers of embryo quality. The MDA level in follicular fluid was positively related to polyunsaturated fatty acids intake level [p=0.02] and negatively associated with good cleavage rate [p=0.045]. Also good cleavage rate [p=0.005] and mean of blastomer [p=0.006] was negatively associated with polyunsaturated fatty acids intake levels. The percentage of metaphase Second stage oocyte was positively related to the TAC levels in follicular fluid [p=0.046]. The relationship between the OS biomarkers in FF and the fertilization rate was not significant. These findings revealed that fat rich diet may induce the OS in oocyte environment and negatively influence embryonic development. This effect can partially be accounted by polyunsaturated fatty acids uptake while oocyte maturation is related to TAC and oocytes with low total antioxidant capacity have lower chance for fertilization and further development