Comparison of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and metabolic parameters between women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome

Is there any association between vitamin D status and PCOS disease?

INTRODUCTION

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age. The current study sought to assess vitamin D status in women with PCOS compared to the control group and to describe the association between vitamin D deficiency and the features of PCOS.

MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY

A descriptive retrospective study about 176 women of reproductive age was conducted. The sample was divided into two groups: individuals with PCOS (82 women) and healthy individuals without PCOS (94 women). Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a serum concentration less than 10 ng/ml. We used the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21 for all analyses.

RESULTS

In our study, vitamin D deficiency was observed in 40.2% PCOS patients and 24% controls. The 25(OH)D level was lower in PCOS women and the incidence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were significantly higher in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, PCOS women with insulin resistance or obesity had lower 25(OH)D levels in comparison with PCOS individuals without IR or obesity. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)/body mass index (BMI) and vitamin D status.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Vitamin D deficiency could be one of the etiological mechanisms of PCOS. In fact, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in PCOS women is evident, principally in those with obesity or IR. Also, the serum 25(OH)D level was correlated with parameters of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, it is proposed that vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial for the management of PCOS patients.

Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated With Metabolic Risk Factors in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study in Shaanxi China

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women at reproductive age, which is characterized by obesity, hyperandrogenemia, and insulin resistance (IR). This study aimed to investigate the vitamin D status, and analyze the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and metabolic risk factors in PCOS women in Shaanxi China. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 169 women diagnosed with PCOS and 114 control women without PCOS. The serum 25(OH)D and metabolic markers were measured. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25(OH)D concentration less than 20 ng/mL. The primary outcome was the difference in vitamin D status between the PCOS and control groups, the secondary outcomes were correlations between serum 25(OH)D concentration and metabolic risk factors in women with PCOS. Results: The serum 25(OH)D concentration was significantly lower in women with PCOS than in controls (P < 0.05), and the prevalence rates of 25(OH)D deficiency and insufficiency were significantly higher in women with PCOS than in controls (P < 0.05). The serum 25(OH)D concentration was significantly lower in PCOS women with obesity or IR than in women without obesity or IR (P < 0.05), and the prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency in PCOS women with obesity or IR was significantly higher than in women without obesity or IR (P < 0.05). Serum 25(OH)D concentration was significantly negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (P < 0.05). In comparison, serum 25(OH)D concentration was significantly positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P < 0.05). Increased BMI and WHR, high levels of fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, LDL-C and hs-CRP were regarded as risk factors, but high level of HDL-C was considered to be protective factor of vitamin D deficiency in PCOS women. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in PCOS women in Shaanxi China, especially in those with obesity and IR. The serum 25(OH)D level was correlated with metabolic risk factors in PCOS women. Multi-center randomized controlled trials with large sample sizes are needed to probe the metabolic effect of vitamin D supplementation in PCOS women.