title: Nutrients and infertility: an alternative perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Different gonadotrophin preparations or different protocols of ovulation induction are powerless to determine a significantly increase in oocyte quality in the majority of aged patients or in patients with repeated failed in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Papers published on journal focused on nutraceutical and human reproduction. EVIDENCES: It is questionable if various molecules that are positively associated with higher oocyte competence, higher fertilization rate and embryo development could be supplemented to infertile patients with the aim to partly reduce the frequency of unsuccessful IVF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aim of this short review is mainly to focus the attention on potentially positive effects in female fertility of few, well established substances, that could be suggested as a dietary supplement.
authors: Centro Natalità, Obstetrics-Gynaecology Department, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy. papaleo.enrico@hsr.it
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Papaleo
authors: M T
authors: MT
authors: Potenza
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Brigante
authors: E
authors: E
authors: De Michele
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Pellegrino
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Candiani
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy*; D007294:Inositol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006710:Homocysteine; D007294:Inositol; D005492:Folic Acid; D012643:Selenium