title: Altered Preconception Fatty Acid Intake Is Associated with Improved Pregnancy Rates in Overweight and Obese Women Undertaking in Vitro Fertilisation.
abstract: Maternal preconception diet is proposed to affect fertility. Prior research assessing the effect of altering the fatty acid profile on female fertility is conflicting. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of preconception maternal diet, specifically fatty acid profile, on pregnancies and live births following in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Forty-six overweight and obese women undergoing IVF were randomised to a diet and physical activity intervention (intervention) or standard care (control). Outcome measures included pregnancy, live birth and pre-study dietary intake from food frequency questionnaire. Twenty pregnancies (n = 12/18 vs. n = 8/20, p = 0.12) and 12 live births (n = 7/18 vs. n = 5/20, p = 0.48) occurred following the intervention with no differences between the treatment groups. On analysis adjusted for BMI and smoking status, women who became pregnant had higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake (p = 0.03), specifically omega-6 PUFA and linoleic acid (LA) (p = 0.045) with a trend for an elevated intake of omega-3 PUFA (p = 0.06). There were no dietary differences for women who did or did not have a live birth. Maternal preconception PUFA, and specifically omega-6 and LA intake, are associated with improved pregnancy rates in overweight and obese women undergoing IVF. This has implications for optimising fertility through preconception nutrition.
authors.affiliation: The Robinson Research Institute, Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5006, South Australia, Australia. lisa.moran@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.affiliation: The Robinson Research Institute, Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5006, South Australia, Australia. victoria.tsagareli@health.sa.gov.au.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tsagareli
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences, Adelaide 5000, South Australia, Australia. manny.noakes@csiro.au.
authors.forename: Manny
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noakes
authors.affiliation: The Robinson Research Institute, Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5006, South Australia, Australia. robert.norman@adelaide.edu.au.|Fertility SA, Adelaide 5000, South Australia, Australia. robert.norman@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Norman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004032:Diet; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D050177:Overweight; D016742:Preconception Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D019787:Linoleic Acid
keywords: assisted reproductive technology; diet; exercise; fertility; in-vitro fertilization; omega 3 fatty acids; pregnancy; unsaturated fat; weight loss