The Impact of Vitamin D Status on in Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Outcomes

The Impact of Vitamin D on Implantation and Clinical Pregnancy Rates Following in Vitro Fertilization

Infertility is a common and psychologically devastating problem for 20% of Canadian couples. Approximately, 20% of infertile couples are diagnosed with unexplained infertility and left without an explanation for their inability to have a baby. Pathological uterine receptivity and embryo implantation are hypothesized mechanisms underlying sub-fertility in these couples. Embryo implantation requires a complicated sequence of events involving the differentiation of endometrial cells to attain uterine receptivity and the synchronized interaction between maternal and embryonic tissues. Vitamin D has been hypothesized to play a role in this poorly understood process. Vitamin D is a known regulator of signal transduction pathways involved in embryo implantation and its receptors are involved in calcium-regulation in various reproductive tissues including, the ovary, uterus, and placenta. In Canada, the prevalence of Vitamin D insufficiency is approximately 34-50%. The goal of the proposed study is to determine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in an infertile population and whether this prevalence is higher than in average Canadian reproductive age women. More importantly, we will investigate whether vitamin D insufficiency in our infertile population translates to impaired implantation and reduced clinical pregnancy rates. Insight into vitamin D's role in reproduction is essential not only to provide scientific understanding of the mechanism underlying embryo implantation, but also because vitamin D supplementation could provide an easy and safe means of treating infertility.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Vitamin D Status

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 182

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, m5t2z5
      • Centre for Fertility and Reproductive Health, Mount Sinai Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 40 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients undergoing IVF at Mount Sinai Hospital

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age > 18, < 40
• Day 3 FSH < 10
• Capable of providing informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• BMI > 35
• Untreated uterine pathology ie. fibroids, septum, polyps
• Unable to provide informed consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Vitamin D deficient
Vitamin D sufficient

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
implantation rates following IVF	3 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
clinical pregnancy rates following IVF	3 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Toronto
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Kimberly Liu, MD FRCSC, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Garbedian K, Boggild M, Moody J, Liu KE. Effect of vitamin D status on clinical pregnancy rates following in vitro fertilization. CMAJ Open. 2013 Jun 28;1(2):E77-82. doi: 10.9778/cmajo.20120032. eCollection 2013 May.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2011
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 4, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 4, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): May 5, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): June 19, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 18, 2012
• Last Verified: June 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Vitamin D; In vitro Fertilization
• Other Study ID Numbers: 10-0288-E