Obesity and ultrasound-estimated visceral fat deposits in women undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedures

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of body mass index (BMI) and ultrasound-estimated visceral adipose tissue deposits on oocyte quality and pregnancy rate in women undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedures. The study included 58 women who underwent ART procedures. According to their BMI, the women were divided into normal weight and overweight/obese; an ultrasound evaluation of preperitoneal fat thickness (PFT) was also performed for each patient. The oocyte quality was then assessed, and samples of follicular fluid were collected from each woman, in order to evaluate the intrafollicular concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as markers of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6) as markers of chronic inflammation. A negative correlation was found between BMI (as well as PFT) and the number of retrieved oocytes (r = −0.3; p <0.05 and r = −0.5; p < 0.001, respectively), good quality oocytes (r = −0.4; p = <0.05) and obtained embryos (r = −0.3; p < 0.05). In women undergoing ART procedures, BMI and PFT negatively influence the number of oocytes retrieved and their quality. However, on multivariable analysis, only age, PFT and number of retrieved oocytes affect the success rate of ART procedures.

Chinese abstract

这项研究的目的是评估体质量指数（BMI）和超声测量的内脏脂肪厚度对接受辅助生殖技术（ART）女性的卵母细胞质量和妊娠率的影响。58名接受ART治疗的女性被纳入研究, 依据不同的BMI值, 将这些研究对象分为正常体重组和超重/肥胖组; 用超声检测了每位患者腹膜前脂肪厚度（PFT）。该研究对她们的卵母细胞质量进行了评估, 并收集了她们的卵泡液, 以评估卵泡液内氧化应激标志物活性氧(ROS)和慢性炎症的标志物促炎症细胞因子（IL-1b和IL-6）的浓度。研究结果发现 BMI（以及PFT）与卵母细胞数呈负相关。（相关统计结果分别是r = -0.3; p < 0.05和r = -0.5; p < 0.001）, 与优质卵母细胞数成负相关（r = -0.4; p <0.05）, 与可获得胚胎成负相关（r = -0.3; p < 0.05）。由此可以得出结论, 在接受ART治疗的女性中, BMI和PFT对卵母细胞数量及其质量产生负性影响。然而, 在多变量分析中, 只有年龄、PFT和卵母细胞数量影响ART手术的成功率。

Keywords:

• Embryo quality
• obesity
• oocyte quality
• preperitoneal fat thickness
• visceral fat

Declaration of interest

All authors know and comply with the Journal’s Conflict of Interest Policy. The present article is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. No conflicts of interest are declared. No sources of financial support are declared.