Determination of oxidative stress balance in follicular fluid

Abstract

Background: The role of oxidative stress in female reproduction is an area that needs more investigation. This study aims to assess the oxidative stress levels in follicular fluid (FF) samples of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and to relate them to different diagnoses. Methods: A total of 199 woman were enrolled; 37 of them were diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), 71 with endometriosis and 41 with tubal factor infertility (TFI) and 50 of the patients were used as a control group. A sample of FF was collected from each patient at an oocyte retrieval day and analyzed for oxidative stress by measuring a class of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) (dROMs test) and also analyzed for the plasma antioxidant test (PAT). Results: The data analyzed in FF were related to different diagnoses. Groups were not significantly different in age and body mass index (BMI), except for the PCOS group. There was a significant difference between dROMs and PAT levels in FF of patients vs. control group. The same finding was seen when the dROM/PAT ratio was used. Conclusions: We conclude that the evaluation of oxidative stress in FF needs more investigation with regard to markers in the follicular microenvironment.

The Role of Oxidative Stress in Infertility

“…A fair amount of oxidative stress but not an excessive amount is vital in embryo development and the embryo itself generates ROS to implant [ 42 ].…”

“…The supplementation of vitamins and antioxidants (L-arginine, vitamin E, myo-inositol, D-chiro-inositol, carnitine, selenium, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin D + calcium, CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10), and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) was not proven to have a beneficial role in IVF [ 44 ]. An association was found between antioxidant use and the development of clinical pregnancy rates among women with PCOS [ 41 , 42 ].…”

The Predictive Value of Oxidative Stress Index in Patients with Confirmed SARS-COV-2 Infection

“…Measuring the antioxidant power of a sample is important as antioxidants are the first line of defense in the fight against oxidative damage. 16,18 The PAT test is used to quantify water-soluble antioxidants in a biological sample by measuring its ability to reduce ferric ions (Fe 3+ ) to Fe 2+ ions. The measured antioxidants represent the main components of plasma in defense against oxidation: vitamin C, vitamin E, uric acid, and bilirubin.…”

“…Therefore, peroxides are early indicators of oxidative stress. [16][17][18] In this study, we wanted to investigate how the OSI index may be a good predictor of the severity of COVID-19 disease.…”