Does supplementation with mitochondria improve oocyte competence? A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Mitochondrial Medicine
• Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Background:

• Poor oocyte quality is linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, prompting interest in mitochondrial supplementation.
• This approach aims to enhance oocyte competence and support embryo development in assisted reproduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review clinical and biological outcomes of mitochondrial supplementation for improving oocyte competence.
• To assess the safety of mitochondrial supplementation in human and animal models.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of studies from PubMed and Web of Science up to September 2019.
• Inclusion of human and animal (bovine, porcine, mouse) studies reporting efficacy and safety outcomes.
• Data extraction on fertilization, pregnancy, embryo development, and adverse events.

Main Results:

• One randomized controlled trial showed no improvement in clinical pregnancy rates.
• Most studies reported no significant differences in fertilization rates or embryo development compared to controls.
• While safety is a concern, euploid rates and lack of congenital malformations in clinical studies are reassuring.

Conclusions:

• Mitochondrial supplementation appears safe but its efficacy in improving oocyte competence remains uncertain.
• Methodological diversity and data limitations necessitate further pre-clinical and clinical investigation.
• More high-quality research is required to establish the true benefit of this technique.