[Local Data] Serum vitamin D level and in vitro fertilization

Data from a local retrospective study revealed that vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were prevalent among infertile women in Hong Kong. The association between serum 25(OH)D level before ovarian stimulation and the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) of the first in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle have been further investigated.

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Study background

In total, 1,178 women undergoing the first IVF cycle between 2012 and 2016 were included
- 1,113 had pregnancy outcome available from the completed IVF cycle
- Median age (interquartile range): 36 (34 - 38) years old
Serum samples were collected before ovarian stimulation for 25(OH)D level analysis

Key results

Median serum 25(OH)D level: 53.4 (41.9 - 66.6) nmol/L
Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency*: 42.2% (497 out of 1,178)
Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency*: 86.7% (1,021 out of 1,178)
Significantly lower levels of serum 25(OH)D were observed among women undergoing IVF in spring and winter, when compared to those in summer and autumn
The vitamin D deficient group had significantly lower CLBR when compared to the non-deficient group^ (43.9%, 208/474 vs 50.9%, 325/639, OR 0.755, 95% CI 0.595 – 0.959, P = 0.021, unadjusted)
The vitamin D replete group had higher CLBR when compared to the vitamin D insufficient group, which had higher CLBR than that of the vitamin D-deficient group (51.7% (74/143), 50.6% (251/496) and 43.9% (208/474), P = 0.031)
The vitamin D deficient group used a higher total dosage of gonadotropins compared to the non-deficient group
Longer stimulation duration, less oocytes retrieved and less normally fertilized oocytes were observed in the vitamin D deficient group when compared to the non-deficient group

*Serum 25(OH)D level < 50 nmol/L was considered as vitamin D deficiency; 50 nmol/L < serum 25(OH)D level < 75 nmol/L was considered as vitamin D insufficiency; serum 25(OH)D level > 75 nmol/L was considered as replete
^Vitamin D non-deficient group refers to vitamin D insufficient and replete groups

Link to the full article:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8859949/pdf/EC-21-0444.pdf

Reference:

Ko JKY et al. 100 Years of vitamin D: Effect of serum vitamin D level before ovarian stimulation on the cumulative live birth rate of women undergoing in vitro fertilization: a retrospective analysis. Endocr Connect. 2022;11(2):e210444.

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