Folate Levels and Pregnancy Rate in Women Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Techniques: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

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#female #folic-acid #humans #infertility-female #pregnancy

Folate Levels and Pregnancy Rate in Women Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Techniques: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Paffoni et al., 2022 | Reprod Sci | Meta Analysis

Citation

Paffoni Alessio, Reschini Marco, ... Somigliana Edgardo. Folate Levels and Pregnancy Rate in Women Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Techniques: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Reprod Sci. 2022-Feb;29(2):341-356. doi:10.1007/s43032-021-00467-9

Abstract

Maternal nutrition is believed to be closely related to reproductive success and the importance of folate in the reproductive process and its involvement in fundamental biological systems are well known. The present systematic review and meta-analysis will focus on two main aspects: level of folate in women undergoing infertility treatments and association between folate status and success rate in assisted reproductive techniques. Although the importance of folate in the preconceptional phase is known, available data regarding the levels of folate in women who undergo infertility treatments are scarce. Referring to the threshold values generally used for the general population or for supplement users, the concentration of folate in the serum and erythrocytes of infertile women is adequate in the majority of the population with differences related to the geographic origin of the study populations. However, using the red blood cells folate threshold specifically indicated to prevent neural tube defects, the majority of available studies do not offer sufficient data to conclude on the real folate situation. As for the probability of success of ART treatments based on folate levels, our review did not reveal a significant effect.

Key Findings

As for the probability of success of ART treatments based on folate levels, our review did not reveal a significant effect.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Female
  • Folic Acid
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Female
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Rate
  • Reproductive Techniques, Assisted

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: folate

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09