Assessment of Serum Vitamin D Levels in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy in women of
reproductive age with primary features of infertility, menstrual irregularity, and clinical or biochemical
evidence of hyperandrogenism (hirsutism, acne and high androgen level). Vitamin D has a role in the
development of metabolic and endocrine abnormalities in PCOS mediated by insulin resistance.
Objective: Measure serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and
compare their levels with age and body mass index matched healthy controls. Also, assess the
correlation between insulin resistance and 25-hydroxy vitamin D among women with PCOS.
Subjects and Methods: Eighty eight women were involved in this study with age range (18-34 years).
Subjects were divided into two groups: Group 1- forty five women with PCOS and Group 2- forty three
women without PCOS (as controls).
Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D, insulin, free testosterone, Luteinizing hormone (LH), Follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH) were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while serum calcium
and fasting serum glucose were measured by spectrophotometer.
Results: Significant increase in mean value of fasting serum glucose, insulin, homeostatic model
assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), LH, LH/FSH ratio, and free testosterone with significant
decrease in mean value of serum FSH, 25-hydroxy vitamin D, and calcium for patients with PCOS
comparing to age and body mass index match controls. Additionally, significant negative correlations
were found between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels with fasting serum glucose (r= -0.484, p=0.01),
fasting serum insulin (r= -0.422, p=0.04), and HOMA-IR (r= -0.542, p=0.0001) in women with PCOS.
Conclusion: Vitamin D has a role in metabolic and hormonal disturbance seen in PCOS through impact
of vitamin D on insulin releasing and function.