Effects of vitamin C on the outcome of in vitro fertilization–embryo transfer in endometriosis: A randomized controlled study

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the effect of vitamin C (VitC) supplementation on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization–embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in patients with endometriosis (EMs). METHODS: A total of 280 patients with EMs underwent IVF-ET (VitC treatment group, n=160; VitC non-treatment group, n=120). An additional 150 patients who did not have EMs but underwent IVF-ET (control group) were also enrolled in this study. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured to determine the role of VitC on oxidative stress markers in serum and follicular fluid (FF). RESULTS: In total, 245 patients with EMs and 132 patients without EMs underwent successful IVF-ET and follow-up. The serum or FF levels of VitC, SOD, and TAC were lower in the EMs than control group; however, the MDA and ROS levels in serum or FF were higher in the EMs than control group. After 2 months of VitC treatment, the serum VitC levels in serum and FF were significantly increased, while oxidative stress markers were unaffected. CONCLUSION: Treatment with VitC oral formulation improved the serum and FF levels of VitC but did not affect oxidative stress markers in patients with EMs.