title: Prognostic value of follicular fluid 25-OH vitamin D and glucose levels in the IVF outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to measure serum and follicular fluid 25-OH vitamin D and glucose levels in women who underwent IVF-ET treatment and to further investigate whether the circulating 25-OH vitamin D and glucose levels correlate with IVF success.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective observational study included 101 consecutive women who underwent 101 IVF-ICSI ovarian stimulation cycles and were allocated to one of the three groups according to their follicular fluid 25-OH vitamin D concentrations. Group A (n = 31) with less than 20 ng/ml, group B (n = 49) with vitamin levels between 20.1 and 30 ng/ml and group C (n = 21) with more than 30 ng/ml vitamin concentration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Follicular fluid vitamin levels significantly correlated with the quality of embryos in total (r = -0.27, p = 0.027), while the quality of embryos of group C were of lower quality as compared to those of groups A and B (p = 0.009). Follicular fluid glucose levels were lower in women of group C as compared to the respective levels of groups A and B (p = 0.003). Clinical pregnancy rate demonstrated in 14.5% in women of group C and 32.3% and 32.7% in groups A and B, respectively (p = 0.047).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggests that excess serum and follicular fluid vitamin levels in combination with decreased follicular fluid glucose levels have a detrimental impact on the IVF outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece. ganif@med.uth.gr
authors.forename: Georgios M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Anifandis
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dafopoulos
authors.forename: Christina I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Messini
authors.forename: Nektarios
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chalvatzas
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liakos
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pournaras
authors.forename: Ioannis E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Messinis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011379:Prognosis; D011786:Quality Control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D005947:Glucose