Serum omega-3 fatty acids and treatment outcomes among women undergoing assisted reproduction

AbstractSTUDY QUESTIONAre serum polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) concentrations, including omega-3 ( ω3-PUFA) and omega-6 (ω6-PUFA), related to ART outcomes?SUMMARY ANSWERSerum levels of long-chain ω3-PUFA were positively associated with probability of live birth among women undergoing ART.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYIntake of ω3-PUFA improves oocyte and embryo quality in animal and human studies. However, a recent cohort study found no relation between circulating ω3-PUFA levels and pregnancy rates after ART.STUDY DESIGN SIZE, AND DURATIONThis analysis included a random sample of 100 women from a prospective cohort study (EARTH) at the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center who underwent 136 ART cycles within one year of blood collection.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSSerum fatty acids (expressed as percentage of total fatty acids) were measured by gas chromatography in samples taken between Days 3 and 9 of a stimulated cycle. Primary outcomes included the probability of implantation, clinical pregnancy and live birth per initiated cycle. Cluster-weighted generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to analyze the association of total and specific PUFAs with ART outcomes adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking status, physical activity, use of multivitamins and history of live birth.MAIN RESULTS AND ROLE OF CHANCEThe median [25th, 75th percentile] serum level of ω3-PUFA was 4.7% [3.8%, 5.8%] of total fatty acids. Higher levels of serum long-c...
Source: Human Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research