title: Predictive value of the level of vitamin D in follicular fluid on the outcome of assisted reproductive technology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the correlation between the levels of vitamin D in follicular fluid and serum, and to determine whether the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OH-D) in follicular fluid of infertile women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) is associated with the outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two infertile women undergoing ART at an academic tertiary care centre were recruited for a prospective cohort study. Levels of 25OH-D in follicular fluid and serum were measured. Standardized regimens for pituitary downregulation and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation were employed. Patient and cycle parameters, and clinical pregnancy (defined as evidence of intra-uterine gestation sac plus heart rate on ultrasound) were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant correlation was found between the levels of vitamin D in follicular fluid and serum (r=0.767, p=0.001). The overall rates of chemical, clinical and ongoing pregnancy were 35.5% (n=29), 29.3% (n=24) and 23.2% (n=19), respectively. No significant difference was found in these pregnancy rates between the tertiles of 25OH-D level in follicular fluid (p=0.959, 0.995 and 0.604, respectively). The median serum level of vitamin D was 8.13 (range 5.37-13.62)ng/ml in the clinically pregnant group and 8.29 (range 5.93-21.23)ng/ml in the non-pregnant group (p=0.235). Interestingly, the median level of vitamin D in follicular fluid was 9.19 (range 5.25-19.51)ng/ml in the clinically pregnant group and 10.34 (range 5.89-29.69)ng/ml in the non-pregnant group (p=0.433). The fertilization rate decreased significantly and the implantation rate increased (not significantly) with increasing tertiles of 25OH-D level in follicular fluid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The level of 25OH-D in follicular fluid is reflective of body stores of vitamin D. Most subjects in this study were deficient in vitamin D, but this study found that vitamin D deficiency does not play a pivotal role in the outcome of ART.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infertility, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, North Karegar Street, Tehran 1411713135, Iran.
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aleyasin
authors.forename: Marzieh Agha
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.forename: Atossa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahdavi
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Safdarian
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fallahi
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mohajeri
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbasi
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esfahani
mesh_terms: D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2; D002112:Calcifediol