Takeaway
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was associated with higher vitamin D levels despite the presence of high body mass index (BMI) and metabolic derangements (such as high body mass index [BMI], increased homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance q[HOMA-IR] and C-reactive proteins [hs-CRP]).
Why this matters
- Earlier data suggest that vitamin D may have a role in improving reproductive and metabolic health in affected women.
- However, the actual role of vitamin D in PCOS is unclear and the available data have been inconclusive.
Study design
- This prospective population-based study compared vitamin D status in women with self-reported PCOS and/or diagnosed PCOS (n=280) and controls (n=1573).
- Data were taken from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966.
- Funding: None disclosed.
Key results
- Women with PCOS vs controls (P<.001) showed:
- higher BMI (26.23 vs 23.61 kg/m2),
- increased HOMA-IR (1.23 vs 1.00),
- higher testosterone levels (1.40 vs 1.03 nmol/L) and
- high hs-CRP (2.62 vs 1.63 mg/L).6
- Mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels showed no significant difference (P=.051) between the PCOS (50.35 nmol/L) and control (48.30 nmol/L) groups.
- After adjusting for multiple confounders, a positive association between total 25(OH)D levels and self-reported PCOS was noted (self-reported vs control groups; β=2.46; P=.003).
- Similar findings were observed after adjusting for HOMA-IR (self-reported vs control groups; β=2.39; P=.007).
- Treatment for infertility was more common in PCOS vs control groups (23.5% vs 5.5%; P<.001).
Limitations
- Use of self-reported symptoms and diagnosis PCOS.
- Lack of information on vitamin D supplementation.
References
References
