Positive Health Online

Abstract

TIBONI and colleagues, Sezione di Ostetricia e Ginecologia, Dipartimento di Medicina e Scienze dell'Invecchiamento, Universita "G. D'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy, tiboni@unich.it, have examined the effects of smoking on antioxidant vitamins in follicular fluid in women undergoing IVF.

Background

Increasing evidence suggests that fat-soluble vitamins and micronutrients have the potential for local modulation of follicular development. Cigarette smoking has been associated with accelerated follicular depletion and disturbance of reproductive functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of cigarette smoking on follicular and plasma concentrations of vitamin A, vitamin E, lycopene and beta-carotene.

Methodology

Samples were collected from 17 smokers and 43 non-smoking women undergoing assisted reproduction techniques. Assays were carried out by a reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography method.

Results

Smokers had significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of follicular fluid beta-carotene in comparison to non-smokers. No other significant influences on follicular and plasma concentrations were noted. Smokers showed a significantly (p < 0.05) lower fertilization rate in comparison to non-smokers, (55.9 % vs. 71.5 % , respectively).

Conclusion

This study suggests that follicular depletion of the antioxidant beta-carotene occurs in response to the oxidative stress imposed by cigarette smoke.

References

Tiboni GM, Bucciarelli T, Giampietro F, Sulpizio M, Di Ilio C. Influence of cigarette smoking on vitamin E, vitamin A, beta-carotene and lycopene concentrations in human pre-ovulatory follicular fluid. International Journal of Immunopathology & Pharmacology 17 (3): 389-393, Sep-Dec 2004.