Serum oxidizability and antioxidant status in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the serum oxidizability and antioxidant status in women undergoing an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle and to assess the possible relationship of the oxidizability indexes with the pregnancy rate.


METHODS
Prospective, longitudinal study.


METHODS
Public university and public university hospital.


METHODS
Systematically recruited cohort of 125 women undergoing either IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).


METHODS
Serum samples were collected before the beginning of the use of gonadotropins (basal) and the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration (final) during an IVF cycle.


METHODS
The Cu2+-induced serum oxidation in terms of the oxidation rate in the lag (Vlag) and propagation (Vmax) phases and the time at which the oxidation rate is maximal (tmax), and measurements of serum total antioxidant activity (TAA), tocopherol, hydrophilic antioxidants, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide.


RESULTS
Albumin, urate, bilirubin, alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol, TAA, and tmax statistically significantly decreased after the IVF cycle. Conception cycles were associated with a serum more prone to oxidation compared with nonconception cycles. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the difference (final-basal) of the oxidation index Vlag (OR 1.394) and the body mass index (OR 0.785) were independent predictors of pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with IVF induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is reflected in a serum less protected against oxidation. The results also suggest a role for ROS in the occurrence of conception in IVF.
Aurrekoetxea
Igor
I
Department of Physiology, Medicine and Dentistry School, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.
Ruiz-Sanz
José Ignacio
JI
Department of Physiology, Medicine and Dentistry School, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.
Del Agua
Ainhoa Ruiz
AR
Department of Physiology, Medicine and Dentistry School, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.
Navarro
Rosaura
R
Department of Physiology, Medicine and Dentistry School, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.
Hernández
M Luisa
ML
Department of Physiology, Medicine and Dentistry School, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.
Matorras
Roberto
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cruces Hospital, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.
Prieto
Begoña
B
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cruces Hospital, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.
Ruiz-Larrea
M Begoña
MB
Department of Physiology, Medicine and Dentistry School, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain. Electronic address: mbego.ruizlarrea@ehu.es.
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D055550:Protein Stability; D044967:Serum / Q000378:metabolism*
D000975:Antioxidants; D001798:Blood Proteins