High-resolution 1H-NMR spectroscopy indicates variations in metabolomics profile of follicular fluid from women with advanced maternal age

Aim To reveal whether there are differences in follicular fluid metabolomics profile of women with advanced maternal age (AMA). Method The group with advanced maternal age includes 23 patients above the age of 40, and the control group includes 31 patients aged between 25 and 35 years and AMH values above 1.1 ng/mL with no low ovarian response history. A single follicular fluid sample from a MII oocyte obtained during the oocyte pick-up procedure was analyzed with high-resolution H-1-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy. The results were evaluated using advanced bioinformatics analysis methods. Results Statistical analysis of the NMR spectroscopy data from two groups showed that alpha-glucose and beta-glucose levels of follicular fluid were decreased in the patients with AMA, while in contrast, lactate and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels were increased in these patients compared with the controls. In addition to these, there was an increase in alanine levels and a decrease in acetoacetate levels in patients with AMA. However, these changes were not statistically significant. Conclusion Obtained results suggest that the follicular cell metabolism of patients with AMA is different from controls. These environmental changes could be associated with the low success rates of IVF treatment seen in these patients.