Investigation of the effect of micronutrient supplementation on fertility in i̇nfertile patients

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of micronutrient supplementation on fertility in an infertile patient group. The study aims to explore the possible positive effects of micronutrients, particularly antioxidant vitamins and minerals, on reproductive health and to determine how this supplementation influences pregnancy rates. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 patients diagnosed with primary or secondary infertility who presented to the Infertility Clinic of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Faculty of Medicine between 2023 and 2024. The patients were divided into two groups; the first group received micronutrient supplementation, while the second group did not receive any additional treatment. Both groups were followed for 3 months, and pregnancy rates were compared. Demographic and laboratory parameters, including age, body mass index (BMI), FSH, LH, AMH, progesterone, and prolactin levels, were evaluated. Results: The mean age of the 60 participants was 26.8±4.7 years, with a mean weight of 63.3±7.2 kg, and a mean height of 159.5±14.3 cm. The mean BMI was 24.4±2.8, and the mean duration of infertility was 2.5±1.24 years. The mean parity was 0.21±0.5, and the mean number of abortions was 0.07±0.25. In the micronutrient supplementation group, the mean BMI was 25.2±2.2, whereas the control group had a BMI of 23.6±3.2. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.028). The mean weight in the micronutrient group was 65.5±6.18 kg, compared to 61.1±7.5 kg in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (p=0.016). LH levels were 5.1±3.64 mIU/ml in the micronutrient group and 6.2±2.85 mIU/ml in the control group, also showing a statistically significant difference (p=0.034). AMH levels were 4.15±1.76 in the micronutrient group and 5.22±3.4 in the control group, but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.311). Conclusion: This study suggests that micronutrient supplementation does not directly increase pregnancy rates in infertility treatment but may play a supportive role in reproductive health. Specifically, the observed effects on LH levels indicate that micronutrients may contribute to hormonal balance. Further long-term studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings. Keywords: Antioxidants, Fertility, Pregnancy rate, Infertility, Micronutrient supplementation