Nutritional Regulation of Ovarian Bioenergetics: Implications for Reproductive Aging and Female Infertility

Ovarian function is critically dependent on tightly coordinated cellular energy metabolism, which governs follicular development, oocyte competence, and reproductive longevity. Increasing evidence indicates that metabolic dysregulation, including mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative imbalance, and impaired NAD⁺ metabolism, contributes to the pathophysiology of major ovarian disorders such as PCOS, ovarian aging, and DOR. In parallel, emerging studies suggest that nutritional factors influence ovarian function by modulating mitochondrial bioenergetics, redox homeostasis, and nutrient-sensing signaling pathways. This review summarizes current knowledge on the molecular basis of ovarian energy metabolism and its disruption in female reproductive disorders. We further discuss nutritional strategies targeting ovarian bioenergetics, including antioxidants, NAD⁺ precursors, mitochondrial cofactors, and dietary metabolic interventions. In addition, we highlight recent advances in metabolomics, microbiome research, epigenomics, and multi-omics integration that are shaping emerging nutrition-based approaches in reproductive medicine. Collectively, positioning ovarian metabolism at the center of nutritional reproductive research may provide a conceptual framework for understanding metabolic regulation in ovarian function and for guiding future research on reproductive health.