Role of oral nutritional supplements in managing diminished ovarian reserve

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Created On: 04/02/2026

This study assessed the adjuvant role of oral nutritional supplements—including vitamins, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)—in boosting fertility outcomes in women with diminished ovarian reserve.

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Key take away

Oral nutritional supplements enhance ovarian reserve, increase oocyte retrieval, and boost pregnancy rates in women with diminished ovarian reserve.

Background

Method

A systematic review and meta-analysis was executed using data retrieved from 9 major databases. Key reproductive outcomes analyzed included serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), number of oocytes retrieved, antral follicle count (AFC), and clinical pregnancy rate. Study quality was critically appraised via the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale to ascertain methodological rigor.

Continuous outcomes were pooled using either the standardized mean difference (SMD) or mean difference (MD), along with corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Dichotomous outcomes were synthesized using odds ratios (ORs), and between-study heterogeneity was assessed via the I² statistic.

Result

Overall, 16 eligible studies involving 2,773 women with compromised ovarian reserve were incorporated. Pooled evidence illustrated that oral nutritional supplementation appreciably:

Reduced FSH levels (SMD = −0.67)
Increased AMH levels (SMD = 0.35)
Improved AFC (MD = 0.99)
Raised the number of retrieved oocytes (MD = 0.88)
Enhanced clinical pregnancy rates (OR = 1.70)

Subgroup analyses revealed that supplement use exceeding 2 months elicited superior improvements in FSH reduction, AMH elevation, and oocyte yield. Notably, CoQ10 supplementation alone outperformed DHEA alone in improving ovarian reserve markers. A statistically significant connection was witnessed between nutritional supplement use and improvements in FSH, AMH, AFC, and oocyte retrieval. Sensitivity analyses validated the reliability and robustness of these findings.

Conclusion

Oral nutritional supplements, particularly vitamins and coenzyme Q10, represent a safe, accessible, and low-risk adjunctive therapy for improving ovarian reserve parameters and fertility outcomes in women with diminished ovarian reserve. These findings support their potential role in fertility optimization and assisted reproductive treatment strategies.