DHA Dietary Supplement for Oocyte Quality and Fertility

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is no effective strategy to delay ovarian aging or improve oocyte quality in women, leading to poor fertility outcomes and increased chromosomal abnormalities with advanced maternal age, despite advancements in medical care.

Innovation Solution

A dietary supplement comprising at least 30% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with an omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio of 10:1 or greater, administered to enhance or prolong fertility, improve oocyte quality, and reduce chromosomal abnormalities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If women postpone childbearing to advance maternal age, then career and life stability are improved, but fertility and oocyte quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelife stabilityVSAvoidfertility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by administering omega-3 fatty acid supplements before and during the period of advanced maternal age to prevent or delay the decline in oocyte quality and fertility. This proactive nutritional intervention aims to maintain reproductive function before the inevitable age-related deterioration sets in, allowing women to postpone childbearing without suffering the full impact of age-related fertility decline.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Duration of action of stationary object

If medical care advancements prolong life expectancy, then overall lifespan is improved, but the reproductive lifespan becomes disproportionately short

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelife expectancyVSAvoidreproductive lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the nutritional composition parameters - specifically increasing omega-3 fatty acid intake and optimizing the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio - to alter the biological aging process of ovarian follicles. This dietary parameter modification aims to slow down the depletion rate of the ovarian reserve and delay menopause, thereby extending the reproductive lifespan to better match the prolonged life expectancy from medical advancements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If dietary omega-6 fatty acid intake is high, then anti-inflammatory effects are improved, but oocyte quality and reproductive function deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-inflammatory effectVSAvoidoocyte quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. Rather than eliminating omega-6 fatty acids entirely (which would compromise anti-inflammatory benefits), the patent optimizes the balance by limiting omega-6 intake and ensuring adequate omega-3 intake, achieving a ratio that simultaneously maintains anti-inflammatory effects while protecting oocyte quality from oxidative damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2822403B1Methods and uses for enhancing, improving, or increasing fertility or reproductive function
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 CHILDRENS MEDICAL CENT CORP
  • EP2822403B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2822403B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2822403B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~2C

AI summary

The present disclosure is directed to methods for enhancing, improving or increasing fertility or reproductive function. For example, the present disclosure is directed to a method for enhancing, improving, or increasing a female human's likelihood of becoming pregnant comprising: administering to the human a nutritional, dietary, or food fatty acid supplement comprising: at least 30% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), by weight of the total fatty acids in the supplement in a form chosen from ethyl ester, free fatty acid, and triglyceride.