(121) THE IMPACT OF COQ10 ON IVF OUTCOMES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Authors: Chapalamadugu M , Tomlinson A , Rodriguez S , Patrizio P 
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has become an increasingly viable option for patients who desire pregnancy. Prognostic factors that have been well-established as increasing the likelihood of success in achieving pregnancy through IVF are lower maternal age, history of previous live births, and shorter duration of infertility; however, these factors are nonmodifiable. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an antioxidant molecule produced by the body that prevents oxidative damage and has been studied as a factor in the process of aging. It has been hypothesized that the decrease in endogenous production of CoQ10 may be associated with the decrease in both male and female fertility, the latter of which is hypothesized to be through the decrease in ovarian follicles with age. In 2021, a review of the literature on CoQ10 supplementation and its effects on IVF success concluded that, while CoQ10 is generally well tolerated and incurs little identified risk to patients, its efficacy in improving IVF success has not been shown.

Objective

The goal of this systematic review is to examine randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies from 2021 onwards to examine the effects of supplementation with CoQ10 on pregnancy success rates, oocyte retrievals, oocyte quality, live birth rates, and any other IVF outcomes.

Methods

A search was conducted in June 2024 of five of the most relevant databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Trials, and OVID MedLine) of clinical studies, RCTs, and case reports analyzing the impact of CoQ10 on IVF and fertility outcomes. Articles were excluded based on title in a first-pass, and review of abstracts in a second-pass by two independent reviewers. Disagreements were resolved by discussion between reviewers.

Results

Of 440 studies found in the search, 5 matched our inclusion criteria. Our review consists of two RCTs, two cohort studies, and one prospective cross-sectional study. Outcomes included metabolic profiles, changes in oxidative markers, follicular growth, ovarian function, metabolic profiles, ovulation induction metrics, fertilization rates, and pregnancy rates. Follow-up duration ranged from 8 days to a full pregnancy. CoQ10 was found across the included studies to improve endometrial thickness, antral follicle count, oocyte count, oocyte retrieval, embryo count, and clinical pregnancy rate, as well as metabolic profile (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides).

Conclusions

Studies evaluating the impact of CoQ10 on IVF outcomes in the past three years have been able to demonstrate, with rigorous methodology, the potential positive effect that CoQ10 supplementation can have. More and more research is being devoted to the impact of antioxidants and supplementation on IVF outcomes, and the results of our review indicate that CoQ10 is a promising supplement for patients trying to become pregnant. We hope to see more studies in the future examining CoQ10 with larger sample sizes and more standardized dosing and administration.

Disclosure

No.