Elevated follicular fluid concentrations of ultraviolet filters associated with diminished ovarian reserve: A case-control study

Ultraviolet filters (UVFs) are widely used in personal care products, their occurrence in the environment and potential detrimental effects on human health have raised significant concerns. This case-control study included 102 women—34 with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and 68 healthy controls—an...

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Main Authors: Yichang Tian, Jialin Sun, Ying Fang, Chen Li, Cong Wang, Zhimin Xin, Shuo Wang, Xiaokui Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Environment International
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003241
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author Yichang Tian
Jialin Sun
Ying Fang
Chen Li
Cong Wang
Zhimin Xin
Shuo Wang
Xiaokui Yang
author_facet Yichang Tian
Jialin Sun
Ying Fang
Chen Li
Cong Wang
Zhimin Xin
Shuo Wang
Xiaokui Yang
author_sort Yichang Tian
collection DOAJ
description Ultraviolet filters (UVFs) are widely used in personal care products, their occurrence in the environment and potential detrimental effects on human health have raised significant concerns. This case-control study included 102 women—34 with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and 68 healthy controls—and aimed to investigate the association between UVF exposure and DOR. We collected and analyzed follicular fluid (FF) samples from women diagnosed with DOR and compared them to samples from a control group, measuring the concentrations of 16 different UVFs. Four individual compounds showed significantly higher concentrations in the DOR group: octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), UV-P, UV-328, and Ensulizole. The cumulative concentration of ten UVFs with detection frequencies above 50 % was also markedly elevated in the DOR group (median ΣUVFs: 178.96 ng/mL vs. 23.93 ng/mL, p < 0.001). OMC exhibited the highest median concentration (170.81 ng/mL in DOR vs. 20.77 ng/mL in controls, p < 0.001), followed by UV-P, UV-328, and Ensulizole. Spearman analysis revealed significant negative correlations between OMC concentrations with ovarian reserve biomarkers such as anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC), and the number of oocytes retrieved during ovarian stimulation cycles, while exhibiting a positive correlation with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Adjusted logistic regression models demonstrated that elevated OMC levels were associated with a 3.8-fold increased risk of DOR (95 % CI: 1.943–9.782, p < 0.001). These results highlight the urgent need for further investigation into the mechanisms by which UVFs affect ovarian reserve, as well as their potential long-term implications for fertility.
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spelling doaj-art-0125eb3a7b3e41ef9652ea7791c30fb42025-08-20T02:09:51ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202025-07-0120110957310.1016/j.envint.2025.109573Elevated follicular fluid concentrations of ultraviolet filters associated with diminished ovarian reserve: A case-control studyYichang Tian0Jialin Sun1Ying Fang2Chen Li3Cong Wang4Zhimin Xin5Shuo Wang6Xiaokui Yang7Department of Human Reproductive Medicine, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing, ChinaChaoyang District Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Beijing, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Human Reproductive Medicine, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Human Reproductive Medicine, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Human Reproductive Medicine, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing, ChinaChaoyang District Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Beijing, Beijing, China; Corresponding authors at: Chaoyang District Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Beijing, Beijing, China (S. Wang); Department of Human Reproductive Medicine, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (X. Yang).Department of Human Reproductive Medicine, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing, China; Corresponding authors at: Chaoyang District Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Beijing, Beijing, China (S. Wang); Department of Human Reproductive Medicine, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (X. Yang).Ultraviolet filters (UVFs) are widely used in personal care products, their occurrence in the environment and potential detrimental effects on human health have raised significant concerns. This case-control study included 102 women—34 with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and 68 healthy controls—and aimed to investigate the association between UVF exposure and DOR. We collected and analyzed follicular fluid (FF) samples from women diagnosed with DOR and compared them to samples from a control group, measuring the concentrations of 16 different UVFs. Four individual compounds showed significantly higher concentrations in the DOR group: octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), UV-P, UV-328, and Ensulizole. The cumulative concentration of ten UVFs with detection frequencies above 50 % was also markedly elevated in the DOR group (median ΣUVFs: 178.96 ng/mL vs. 23.93 ng/mL, p < 0.001). OMC exhibited the highest median concentration (170.81 ng/mL in DOR vs. 20.77 ng/mL in controls, p < 0.001), followed by UV-P, UV-328, and Ensulizole. Spearman analysis revealed significant negative correlations between OMC concentrations with ovarian reserve biomarkers such as anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC), and the number of oocytes retrieved during ovarian stimulation cycles, while exhibiting a positive correlation with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Adjusted logistic regression models demonstrated that elevated OMC levels were associated with a 3.8-fold increased risk of DOR (95 % CI: 1.943–9.782, p < 0.001). These results highlight the urgent need for further investigation into the mechanisms by which UVFs affect ovarian reserve, as well as their potential long-term implications for fertility.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003241Ultraviolet filters (UVFs)Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR)Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)Follicular fluidCase-control study
spellingShingle Yichang Tian
Jialin Sun
Ying Fang
Chen Li
Cong Wang
Zhimin Xin
Shuo Wang
Xiaokui Yang
Elevated follicular fluid concentrations of ultraviolet filters associated with diminished ovarian reserve: A case-control study
Environment International
Ultraviolet filters (UVFs)
Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR)
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
Follicular fluid
Case-control study
title Elevated follicular fluid concentrations of ultraviolet filters associated with diminished ovarian reserve: A case-control study
title_full Elevated follicular fluid concentrations of ultraviolet filters associated with diminished ovarian reserve: A case-control study
title_fullStr Elevated follicular fluid concentrations of ultraviolet filters associated with diminished ovarian reserve: A case-control study
title_full_unstemmed Elevated follicular fluid concentrations of ultraviolet filters associated with diminished ovarian reserve: A case-control study
title_short Elevated follicular fluid concentrations of ultraviolet filters associated with diminished ovarian reserve: A case-control study
title_sort elevated follicular fluid concentrations of ultraviolet filters associated with diminished ovarian reserve a case control study
topic Ultraviolet filters (UVFs)
Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR)
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
Follicular fluid
Case-control study
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003241
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