Metabolomics and its applications in assisted reproductive technology

Metabolomics, an emerging omics technology developed in the post-gene age, is an important part of systems biology. It interprets the pathophysiological state of the subject by quantitatively describing the dynamic changes of metabolites through analytical methods, mainly mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a method used to manipulate sperm, oocytes, and embryos to achieve conception. Recently, several studies have reported that metabolomics methods can be used to measure metabolites in ART samples; these metabolites can be used to evaluate the quality of gametes and embryos. This article reviews the progress of research on metabolomics and the application of this technology in the field of ART, thus providing a reference for research and development directions in the future.