title: Elevated serum α-linolenic acid levels are associated with decreased chance of pregnancy after in vitro fertilization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze relationships between serum free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations and pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-one women undergoing IVF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum was analyzed for total and specific serum FFAs, including myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and α-linolenic acids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Univariate analyses were used to identify specific FFAs and other factors associated with pregnancy after IVF. Logistic regression was performed modeling relationships between identified factors and chance of pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In unadjusted analyses, women with elevated serum α-linolenic acid (ALA) levels (highest quartile) demonstrated a decreased chance of pregnancy compared with women with the lowest levels (odds ratio 0.24, 95% confidence interval 0.052-0.792). No associations between other FFAs and pregnancy were identified. In a multivariable regression model, associations between elevated serum ALA levels and decreased chance of pregnancy remained after adjusting for patient age, body mass index, and history of endometriosis or previous live birth (adjusted odds ratio 0.139, 95% confidence interval 0.028-0.686).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated serum ALA levels are associated with decreased chance of pregnancy in women undergoing IVF. Further work is needed to determine whether ALA is involved in early reproductive processes and whether the relationship between ALA and pregnancy is associated with excess ALA intake, impaired ALA metabolism, or both.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63108, USA. jungheime@wudosis.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Emily S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Jungheim
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Macones
authors.forename: Randall R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Odem
authors.forename: Bruce W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Kelle H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Moley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate / Q000639:trends*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid