Replete vitamin D stores predict reproductive success following in vitro fertilization.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether 25OH-D levels in the follicular fluid (FF) of infertile women undergoing IVF demonstrate a relationship with IVF cycle parameters and outcome, hypothesizing that levels of 25OH-D in body fluids are reflective of vitamin repletion status.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Academic tertiary care center.


METHODS
Eighty-four infertile women undergoing IVF.


METHODS
Follicular fluid from follicles>or=14 mm; serum (n = 10) and FF levels of 25OH-D.


METHODS
Clinical pregnancy (CP), defined as evidence of intrauterine gestation sac on ultrasound, following IVF; IVF cycle parameters.


RESULTS
Serum and FF levels of 25OH-D were highly correlated (r=0.94). In a predominantly Caucasian population (66%), significantly lower FF 25OH-D levels were noted in Black versus non-Black patients. Significant inverse correlations were seen between FF 25OH-D levels and body mass index (r=-0.25). Significantly higher CP and implantation rates were observed across tertiles of FF25OH-D; patients achieving CP following IVF (n=26) exhibited significantly higher FF levels of 25OH-D. Multivariable logistic regression analysis confirmed FF 25OH-D levels as an independent predictor to success of an IVF cycle; adjusting for age, body mass index, ethnicity, and number of embryos transferred, each ng/mL increase in FF 25OH-D increased the likelihood for achieving CP by 6%.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings that women with higher vitamin D level in their serum and FF are significantly more likely to achieve CP following IVF-embryo transfer are novel. A potential for benefit of vitamin D supplementation on treatment success in infertile patients undergoing IVF is suggested and merits further investigation.
Ozkan
Sebiha
S
Kocaeli University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Jindal
Sangita
S
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health, New York, New York.
Greenseid
Keri
K
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health, New York, New York.
Shu
Jun
J
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, New York, New York.
Zeitlian
Gohar
G
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health, New York, New York.
Hickmon
Cheryl
C
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health, New York, New York.
Pal
Lubna
L
Yale University, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, New Haven, Connecticut.
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
D014807:Vitamin D