P-191 The impact of resveratrol supplementation as antioxidant on embryonic development in older women (over 40years) undergoing IVF
Authors: Kim H , Kim J E , Lim J E , Yang K M , Yoon H J , Yoon S H , Lim J H 
Published: June 2023

Study question

Does the resveratrol supplementation in human embryo culture medium improve embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes in older women?

Summary answer

Resveratrol significantly improved good quality embryo rates. These results are thought to be due to the biological activities of resveratrol as an antioxidant.

What is known already

Reproductive aging involves age-related declines in ovarian function and development capacity. After initiating meiosis, germ cells arrest at the dictyate stage of prophase I in the ovary for 10-50 years in women. Accumulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) affect oocytes adversely. Antioxidants reduce ROS-induced damage to oocytes and resveratrol is an important antioxidant polyphenolic compound. Resveratrol has positive effects on fertility, it improves the development of blastocysts in aged animal and it could enhance the maturation and quality of oocytes from aged women. However, there are just a few studies there are clarified relationship between resveratrol and embryos in older women.

Study design, size, duration

The study retrospectively included 966 patients with aged over 40 years to evaluate the impact of resveratrol on embryo quality and IVF pregnancy outcomes between January 2019 and December 2021.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

The oocytes from aged female (over 40years) were divided into 2 groups, fertilized and cultured in MRC media (MRC#D13 (day 1 ∼ 3) and MRC#D46 (day 4 ∼ 6 culture medium); Maria Medical Foundation, South Korea) in the presence or absence of resveratrol (0.5 μM; Sigma-Aldrich, USA). Fertilization, good quality embryo, clinical pregnancy, and implantation rate after embryo transfer were compared among between the two groups. Data analyzed using the SPSS and T-test p value &lt;0.05 considered statistically significant.

Main results and the role of chance

There was no significant difference in female age (42.5 ± 2.2 vs. 42.3 ± 2.0, P = 0.358), No. of previous ART cycles (3.6 ± 2.3 vs. 3.7 ±  2.5, P = 0.680), thickness of endometrium (9.2 ± 1.5 vs. 9.4 ± 1.4, P = 0.312), maturation rate per oocytes (74.6% vs. 75.8%, P = 0.290), fertilization rate (81.5% vs. 80.0%, P = 0.165), and No. of transferred embryos (2.4 ± 0.6 vs. 2.4 ±  0.6, P = 0.818). However, good quality embryo rate (44.0% vs. 36.4%, p &lt; 0.05) in the resveratrol group was 7.6% higher than the control group. Pregnancy rate (26.8% vs. 22.7%, P = 0.167) and implantation rate (11.9% vs. 9.9%, P = 0.131) were slightly higher than control group but this was not statistically significant.

Limitations, reasons for caution

This is a retrospective study that generates strong conclusions, but it could be interesting to test it in a prospective study. The study was conducted at a single IVF center. Embryo transfer result is based on implantation rate, while the live birth data for all pregnancies are not yet available.

Wider implications of the findings

This is the first study to investigate the effects of resveratrol on the embryonic developmental competence and pregnancy potential of older women (over 40years).

Trial registration number

not applicable