Peripheral fatty acids and outcome of assisted reproduction

•This study investigated fatty acid levels in whole blood in women undergoing in vitro fertilization, analyzing the ranges of fatty acid concentrations associated with four assisted reproductive technology outcomes.•Large prospective studies followed by well-designed supplementation trials are needed to determine the ranges of fatty acid concentrations as well as the ideal fatty acid intake through diet or pharmacological interventions that may benefit women with subfertility. The present study investigated the relationship between fatty acid levels in whole blood in women undergoing in vitro fertilization and four successive assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. A cross-sectional study was performed on data from a prospective cohort study conducted between 2014 and 2016. Participants were 238 women undergoing in vitro fertilization and participating in a study on the role of lifestyle habits and diet in ART outcomes. Blood polyunsaturated fatty acids were measured by gas chromatography. Overall, higher blood levels of monounsaturated fatty acids and oleic acid and higher ω-6/ω-3 ratio and arachidonic/docosahexaenoic acid ratio were associated with more favorable ART outcomes. By contrast, higher concentrations of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids tended to be negatively associated with the considered outcomes. Further prospective studies are needed to determine the ranges of fatty acid concentrations that are optimal for women with subfertility.