Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and IVF treatment

Abstract

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential fatty acids, derived mostly from fish oil, that have a significant anti-inflammatory effect. Data from animal studies support their role in the reproductive mechanism, and recent human studies suggest a positive effect on sperm quality and natural conception. Their general role in human fertility, and specifically in IVF treatment, however, is not clear. A few small, prospective cohort studies have examined the relationship between serum PUFAs and outcome measures and success in IVF, with conflicting results. Some have demonstrated a better chance of live birth with increased levels of serum omega-3 PUFAs, whereas others have failed to show such a correlation, and the reasons for such differences are not clear. Moreover, no welldesigned, published studies have assessing whether the administration of omega-3 PUFAs before IVF treatment can improve clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. The development of safe and well-tolerated pharmaceutical forms of the active omega-3 PUFAs, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), mean that assessment of this question is now possible and future studies are warranted.

Relevance of Fatty Acids to Sperm Maturation and Quality

“…Other authors reported a lower seminal n-6/n-3 ratio in fertile men compared to the infertile ones, probably due to a significantly high amount of total n-3 PUFAs [41]. Recent investigation supports this observation where total n-3 PUFAs of normozoospermic individual's semen were significantly higher than those from men with oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, and oligoasthenozoospermia [71]. In addition, in normozoospermic subjects, it was shown that about 50%, 30%, and 20% of the total FAs were composed of SFAs, PUFAs, and MUFAs, respectively.…”

Effects of Periconceptual Omega-3-Fatty Acid Supplementation on in Vitro Fertilization Success and Miscarriage Rates in Patients of a German Fertility Centre

“…Conclusively, data available so far on human and animal investigations suggest that supplementation of omega-3-fatty acids in male [27][28][29] as well female individuals [16,[19][20] improves reproductive success. Therefore, an omega-3-fatty acid supplementation as part of alimentary modification should be considered to improve female as well as male fertility in a multimodal approach.…”

“…Standardized alimentary supplementation of omega-3-fatty acids before and during an in vitro fertilization therapy so far has not been subject of a well-designed randomized prospective study. Just few small, prospective cohort studies have examined the relationship between serum omega-3-fatty acid levels and IVF-success with conflicting results [16][17][18][19][20]. One of the first approaches to study the correlation of omega-3-fatty acid supplementation and the probability of a pregnancy is the PREPARE-trial by Kermack and co-workers [15], which has not been finished yet.…”

Fatty Acid Profile and Metabolism Are Related to Human Sperm Parameters and Are Relevant in Idiopathic Infertility and Varicocele

“…Many studies reported a high concentration of DHA in the spermatozoa of normozoospermic subjects [ 3 , 10 , 27 , 29 ]. Recently, it was observed that total n-3 PUFA of normozoospermic semen samples was significantly higher than those from oligozoospermic, asthenozoospermic, and oligoasthenozoospermic individuals [ 30 ].…”