title: Prolonging the female reproductive lifespan and improving egg quality with dietary omega-3 fatty acids.
abstract: Women approaching advanced maternal age have extremely poor outcomes with both natural and assisted fertility. Moreover, the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities and birth defects increases with age. As of yet, there is no effective and practical strategy for delaying ovarian aging or improving oocyte quality. We demonstrate that the lifelong consumption of a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids prolongs murine reproductive function into advanced maternal age, while a diet rich in omega-6 fatty acids is associated with very poor reproductive success at advanced maternal age. Furthermore, even short-term dietary treatment with a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids initiated at the time of the normal age-related rapid decline in murine reproductive function is associated with improved oocyte quality, while short-term dietary treatment with omega-6 fatty acids results in very poor oocyte quality. Thus, omega-3 fatty acids may provide an effective and practical avenue for delaying ovarian aging and improving oocyte quality at advanced maternal age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and the Vascular Biology Program, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Deepika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nehra
authors.forename: Hau D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Erica M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Fallon
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: Dori
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: Yvonne A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Amy H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Lankai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rodig
authors.forename: Jonathan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tilly
authors.forename: Bo R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Rueda
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puder
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D056084:Genetic Fitness / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008098:Litter Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013024:Soybean Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D010938:Plant Oils; D013024:Soybean Oil; D000074263:Coconut Oil