Antioxidants-enriched culture medium and its impact on blastocyst euploidy: insights from a prospective sibling oocyte study

Abstract

Study question What is the impact of a commercially available antioxidants-enriched culture medium on blastocyst ploidy rates?

Summary answer The rates of euploidy, aneuploidy, as well as of low and high mosaics are comparable to those achieved with a standard single-step culture medium.

What is known already The in vitro manipulation of gametes and embryos is a significant stress factor associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can accumulate over time during development. Oxidative stress (OS) occurs when ROS levels exceed the cellular antioxidant defence capacity, potentially compromising IVF outcomes by impairing gamete function and embryo development. Substantial evidence highlights the benefits of antioxidant supplementation in culture media, demonstrating improvements in key parameters such as blastocyst developmental rates in both animal models and humans. However, studies evaluating its impact on ploidy outcomes—a critical marker of embryo viability—are notably lacking.