New research suggests flaxseed oil supplementation may significantly improve IVF outcomes for women with decreased ovarian reserve.

Study Overview

Researchers in China conducted a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of flaxseed oil supplementation on IVF outcomes in women with decreased ovarian reserve (DOR). The study involved 218 women, divided into a flaxseed oil supplementation group and a control group.

2. Participant Criteria

The study focused on women under 40 with specific indicators of DOR:

• Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) <1.2 ng/ml
• Antral follicle count (AFC) <7
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) between 10 and 25

Women with ovarian tumors, endocrine disorders, or recent fertility treatment were excluded.

3. Supplementation Protocol

The treatment group received:

• Flaxseed oil capsules (500mg alpha-linolenic acid per capsule)
• Dosage: Two capsules daily
• Duration: Starting 30 days before IVF treatment, continuing until clinical pregnancy

4. Impact on Ovarian Stimulation

Flaxseed oil supplementation yielded notable improvements:

• Reduced total dose of recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH)
• Shortened stimulation time
• Significantly increased peak estradiol (E2) concentration

5. Improvements in Oocyte and Embryo Quality

The supplementation group showed:

• Higher metaphase II (MII) oocyte rate: 84.6% vs 78.9%
• Improved fertilization rate: 76.9% vs 70.9%
• Enhanced cleavage rate: 63.8% vs 51.7%
• Increased high-quality embryo rate: 54.0% vs 45.6%
• Better blastocyst development rate: 57.3% vs 43.9%

6. Clinical Outcomes

While not all results reached statistical significance, the study found:

• Higher embryo implantation rate in the supplementation group: 51.9% vs 45.5%
• No significant difference in cumulative clinical pregnancy rate, multiple pregnancy rate, or spontaneous miscarriage rate

7. Factors Influencing MII Oocyte Rates

Multivariate analysis revealed:

• Negative factor: Increasing female age
• Positive factors: Higher AMH, increased peak E2 concentration, and flaxseed oil intake

8. Potential Mechanisms

The benefits of flaxseed oil are attributed to its high omega-3 fatty acid content, particularly alpha-linolenic acid. Proposed mechanisms include:

• Improved cell membrane function
• Enhanced immune function
• Regulation of lipid metabolism and gene expression

9. Study Limitations

The researchers noted several limitations:

• Relatively small sample size
• Lack of long-term follow-up to assess live birth rates
• Potential influence of unmeasured lifestyle factors

10. Future Research Directions

The study opens avenues for further investigation:

• Larger, multi-center trials
• Optimization of supplementation protocols
• Deeper exploration of the underlying biological mechanisms

Additional Resources

For comprehensive information on fertility interventions and flaxseed benefits, explore:

GreenMedInfo's Female Fertility Agents Database 

GreenMedInfo's Flaxseed Database

References

1. Chu, Qi, Yue-xin Yu, Jing-zi Zhang, Yi-tong Zhang, and Jia-ping Yu. "Effects of Flaxseed Oil Supplementation on Metaphase II Oocyte Rates in IVF Cycles with Decreased Ovarian Reserve: A Randomized Controlled Trial." Frontiers in Endocrinology 15 (February 26, 2024): 1280760. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2024.1280760.

2. GreenMedInfo. "Female Fertility Agents." Accessed. https://greenmedinfo.com/pharmacological-action/fertility-agents-female.

3. GreenMedInfo. "Flaxseed." Accessed. https://greenmedinfo.com/substance/flaxseed.