Level of Vitamin E in Follicular Fluid and Serum and Oocyte Morphology and Embryo Quality in Patients Undergoing IVF Treatment.

Abstract

<b>Objective:</b> This study aimed to determine the relationship between vitamin E in the follicular fluid (FF) and serum with oocyte morphology and embryo quality. <b>Materials and methods:</b> A cross-sectional study was conducted on serum samples, FF samples, oocytes, and embryos collected from 50 women undergoing <i>in vitro</i> fertilization in the Alzahra Hospital, Rasht, Iran from March to August 2014. Vitamin E level was measured using HPLC. Oocyte morphology and embryo quality were evaluated during inverted optical microscopy. <b>Results:</b> Totally 434 oocytes and 199 embryos were examined. Most frequently the metaphase II (MII) oocytes were observed at the 0.35-1 mg/dl level of vitamin E in FF (89.2%) and the 1-5 mg/dl level of vitamin E in serum (86.1%). The odds of having MII oocytes at the level of 0.35-1 mg/dl (OR = 2.48, 95% CI = 1.24-4.94) and 1.5-2 mg/dl (OR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.02-6.19) of vitamin E in FF was significantly higher compared to level of 2-7.4 mg/dl. The effect of vitamin E serum level on oocyte maturation was not significant. The odds of having embryo with Z1 or Z2 quality, at the 10-15 mg/dl level of vitamin E in serum (OR = 6.45, 95% CI = 1.18-35.22), compared to the 15-20 mg/dl level, was significantly higher. The effect of vitamin E levels in FF on the embryo quality was not significant. <b>Conclusion:</b> At certain levels of vitamin E in the FF, oocytes with higher maturation and at certain levels of vitamin E in serum, embryo with higher quality can be achieved.