Association of Follicular Fluid Antioxidants Activity with Aging and In Vitro Fertilization Outcome: A Cross-Sectional Study

This research was aimed at assessing the relationship between the follicular fluid (FF) antioxidantsactivity, aging and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome. The present cross-sectional study was carried out on 65 women undergoing IVF/intracytoplasmicsperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles due to unexplained infertility. Ovarian stimulation was performed using thelong gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist protocol. After ovum pickup, FF was collected and processedto measure the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) andglutathione (GSH). Day 3 after ICSI, fresh embryos were transferred and later, possible pregnancy was assessed.Patients participating in this study were divided into four groups on the basis of age and pregnancy outcome. SOD activity was not significantly different between the groups (P=0.218). GSH in the group whose participantswere aged ≤35 years and were pregnant was higher than that in other groups. CAT activity in groups withyounger participants was higher compared to the other groups. The mean TAC was higher in groups with pregnantparticipants compared to the non-pregnant women. Correlation analysis showed that: GSH level had a significantnegative correlation with age (P<0.001, R -0.55) and a significant positive correlation with pregnancy (P=0.015,R=0.30). CAT level also had a significant negative correlation with age (P<0.001, R=-0.42) and the level of TAC hada significant positive correlation with pregnancy (P<0.001, R=0.59). According to our results, the levels of TAC, GSH and CAT in younger and pregnant women were highercompared with those undergoing ICSI cycles. Given the correlation of FF antioxidant activity with age and pregnancy,it is necessary to carry out more research on these compounds and the maintenance of pregnancy.