Fertility and Sterility
Volume 89, Issue 6 , Pages 1766-1770 , June 2008

Preconception folic acid treatment affects the microenvironment of the maturing oocyte in humans

  • Jolanda C. Boxmeer, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • R. Montserrate Brouns, M.Sc.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Jan Lindemans, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Eric A.P. Steegers, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Elena Martini, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Nick S. Macklon, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    • Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Régine P.M. Steegers-Theunissen, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    • Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    • Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    • Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Régine P.M. Steegers-Theunissen, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor in Reproductive Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology/Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands (FAX: 31-10-4636815).

Received 18 April 2007 ,Revised 15 June 2007 ,Accepted 15 June 2007.

References 

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  2. Steegers-Theunissen RP, Steegers EA. Nutrient-gene interactions in early pregnancy: a vascular hypothesis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2003;106:115–117
  3. Ebisch IM, Thomas CM, Peters WH, Braat DD, Steegers-Theunissen RP. The importance of folate, zinc and antioxidants in the pathogenesis and prevention of subfertility. Hum Reprod Update. 2007;13:163–174
  4. Steegers-Theunissen RP, Steegers EA, Thomas CM, Hollanders HM, Peereboom-Stegeman JH, Trijbels FJ, et al. Study on the presence of homocysteine in ovarian follicular fluid. Fertil Steril. 1993;60:1006–1010
  5. Szymanski W, Kazdepka-Zieminska A. [Effect of homocysteine concentration in follicular fluid on a degree of oocyte maturity]. Ginekol Pol. 2003;74:1392–1396
  6. Ebisch IM, Peters WH, Thomas CM, Wetzels AM, Peer PG, Steegers-Theunissen RP. Homocysteine, glutathione and related thiols affect fertility parameters in the (sub)fertile couple. Hum Reprod. 2006;21:1725–1733
  7. Botto LD, Olney RS, Erickson JD. Vitamin supplements and the risk for congenital anomalies other than neural tube defects. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. 2004;125:12–21
  8. Bailey LB, Berry RJ. Folic acid supplementation and the occurrence of congenital heart defects, orofacial clefts, multiple births, and miscarriage. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;81:1213S–1217S
  9. Haggarty P, McCallum H, McBain H, Andrews K, Duthie S, McNeill G, et al. Effect of B vitamins and genetics on success of in-vitro fertilisation: prospective cohort study. Lancet. 2006;367:1513–1519
  10. Muggli EE, Halliday JL. Folic acid and risk of twinning: a systematic review of the recent literature, July 1994 to July 2006. Med J Aust. 2007;186:243–248
  11. Bliek JB, de Klein A, Luider TM, Lindemans J, Hulsman L, Guzel C, et al. New approach for the identification of folate-related pathways in human embryogenesis. Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand). 2004;50:939–944
  12. Finnell RH, Spiegelstein O, Wlodarczyk B, Triplett A, Pogribny IP, Melnyk S, et al. DNA methylation in folbp1 knockout mice supplemented with folic acid during gestation. J Nutr. 2002;132:2457S–2461S
  13. Kelly TL, Neaga OR, Schwahn BC, Rozen R, Trasler JM. Infertility in 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR)-deficient male mice is partially alleviated by lifetime dietary betaine supplementation. Biol Reprod. 2005;72:667–677
  14. Pfeiffer CM, Huff DL, Gunter EW. Rapid and accurate HPLC assay for plasma total homocysteine and cysteine in a clinical laboratory setting. Clin Chem. 1999;45:290–292
  15. de Jonge R, Griffioen PH, van Zelst B, Brouns RM, Visser W, Lindemans J. Evaluation of a shorter methionine loading test. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2004;42:1027–1031
  16. Refsum H, Smith AD, Ueland PM, Nexo E, Clarke R, McPartlin J, et al. Facts and recommendations about total homocysteine determinations: an expert opinion. Clin Chem. 2004;50:3–32
  17. Gerard N, Loiseau S, Duchamp G, Seguin F. Analysis of the variations of follicular fluid composition during follicular growth and maturation in the mare using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). Reproduction. 2002;124:241–248
  18. Bedaiwy MA, Falcone T, Mohamed MS, Aleem AA, Sharma RK, Worley SE, et al. Differential growth of human embryos in vitro: role of reactive oxygen species. Fertil Steril. 2004;82:593–600
  19. Kolibianakis EM, Albano C, Camus M, Tournaye H, Van Steirteghem AC, Devroey P. Prolongation of the follicular phase in in vitro fertilization results in a lower ongoing pregnancy rate in cycles stimulated with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists. Fertil Steril. 2004;82:102–107
  20. Clark L, Stanger J, Brinsmead M. Prolonged follicle stimulation decreases pregnancy rates after in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril. 1991;55:1192–1194

PII: S0015-0282(07)01379-9

doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.06.036

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 89, Issue 6 , Pages 1766-1770 , June 2008

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