Oxidative stress and antioxidants in serum and follicular fluid: Women

The study concludes that FF FRAP is highly predictive of fertilization potential of oocytes and can be used as a marker of the same. Increased estradiol and oxidative stress markers nitrites, protein carbonyls, LDH in FF confirms the role of estradiol in inducing oxidative damage. A decrease in FF FRAP concludes FF environment has effective antioxidant mechanism. In addition, following long protocol is associated with increased fertilization potential and protein carbonyls in FF. A direct association between age of patients and duration of subfertility is proved. Lower MDA in FF, evidences that effective antioxidant mechanism remains active in the FF environment. MDA showed positive correlation with embryo quality suggesting some amount of ROS is essentially required for having an effective IVF outcome. Since the body’s antioxidant system is influenced by dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, Zinc, taurine, beta-carotene and carotene, the present study emphasizes on supplementation of diet rich in antioxidants to women, irrespective of the etiology of infertility.