Fatty acids of follicular fluid phospholipids and triglycerides display distinct association with IVF outcomes

Research question: Are triglyceride fatty acids in the follicular fluid associated with either follicular fluid phospholipid fatty acids or IVF outcomes and, if so, how are they associated? Design: In a prospective cross-sectional study, 70 women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection were recruited. Follicular fluid phospholipids and triglycerides were separated by thin-layer chromatography. Fatty acids were measured using gas-liquid chromatography and flame ionization detection system. Results: Significant differences in fatty acid composition were observed between follicular fluid phospholipid and triglyceride fractions. Phospholipid stearic acid and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly alpha-linolenic acid, were negatively associated with the number of mature oocytes and cleaved embryos, whereas arachidonic acid was in direct correlation with cleavage rate per IVF cycle (beta = 0.325, P = 0.022). In the case of triglyceride fraction, total monounsaturated fatty acids, oleic acid in particular, displayed significantly positive associations with the number of oocytes (beta = 0.261, P = 0.043) and embryos (beta = 0.310, P = 0.018). Furthermore, cleavage rate correlated inversely with palmitic acid (beta = -0.359, P = 0.007) and directly with pentadecanoic acid (beta = 0.378, P = 0.005). Most of these associations, however, were not independent of predictive fatty acids belonging to phospholipid fraction, according to multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Fatty acid compositions of phospholipid and triglyceride fractions from human follicular fluid differentially correlate with IVF cycle parameters.

Automated summary

The study found that the fatty acid compositions of phospholipid and triglyceride fractions in human follicular fluid are associated with IVF cycle parameters, with some fatty acids showing negative associations with the number of mature oocytes and cleaved embryos, while others are positively associated with oocyte and embryo numbers. These associations were not independent of predictive fatty acids belonging to phospholipid fraction according to multivariate analysis.