Italy: Study on Vitamin D and IVF Success

Increased serum and follicular fluid (FF) levels of vitamin D in women aged 36 years undergoing IVF is associated with a favorable pregnancy rate, finds a recent study in the journal European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences.

Vitamin D is a secosteroid hormone having both immunomodulatory and antiproliferative effects. It is also involved in placental steroidogenesis and endometrial decidualization, suggesting its role in other gynecological functions, including assisted reproductive technology (ART). However, reported data on its implication in pregnancy outcomes during In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) programs has been controversial. In order to elucidate the role of vitamin D in ART success, D. Baldini, Momò Fertilife Clinic, Bisceglie, Italy, and colleagues aimed to evaluate serum and FF vitamin D levels in infertile women concerning the pregnancy rate.

For this purpose, the researchers evaluated 446 patients, under the age of 42 years old, in the period between January 2018 and December 2019. In order to respect the exclusion criteria, only 103 of them were enrolled for the study concerning the VitD evaluation in serum and follicular fluid at the time of the egg retrieval. The patients were divided into 34 pregnant patients (Group 1) and 69 non-pregnant ones (Group 2). Furthermore, the collection of these data gave the opportunity to assess a possible correlation between the VitD levels and the achievement of pregnancy in the performed IVF cycles.

Key Findings of the Study

• The main differences were observed concerning follicle numbers of 17-21 mm, the number of retrieved oocytes, as well as the number of mature oocytes among the different groups.
• Different reference ranges, established according to the pregnancy outcomes, revealed that pregnant women over 36 years showed significantly higher levels of VitD.

"Our results showed that increased serum and FF-VitD levels in women undergoing IVF with age ≥36 years, were significantly associated with a favorable outcome to achieve and carry on with the pregnancy," concluded the authors.

Reference

The study titled, "Increased bioavailability of Vitamin D improved pregnancy outcomes in in vitro fertilization cycles, only in patients over 36 years: a cross-sectional study," is published in the journal European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences.

DOI: https://www.europeanreview.org/article/26453