Vitamin D supplementation needed in PCOS patients : Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India Study

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common female endocrine disorder with unknown etiology. Many treatments are available to treat the symptoms associated with this condition including obesity, insulin resistance, abnormal glucose metabolism, infertility, menstrual irregularity, hirsutism, and acne vulgaris. More recently, it has been found that women with PCOS, particularly if obese, are more likely to be vitamin D deficient. It is hypothesized that vitamin D and calcium metabolism can also affect symptoms associated with PCOS as it influences many physiologic processes within the body.

A recent study, published in The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India analysis the effect of vitamin D and calcium metabolism on symptoms associated with PCOS.

It is hypothesized that vitamin D and calcium metabolism can also affect symptoms associated with PCOS as it influences many physiologic processes within the body. The present study was conducted to find out whether vitamin D had any effect on clinical, hormonal and metabolic profile of PCOS women or not.

In a randomized, placebo-controlled, interventional, double-blind study Taru Gupta et al evaluated and enrolled PCOS women after considering inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were randomized by block randomization with sealed envelope system done in two groups. In the study group (n = 25), patients were supplemented with vitamin D 60,000 IU weekly for 12 weeks, whereas control group (n = 25) was given placebo weekly for the same period. Both the groups were compared pre- and post-supplementation for variables like clinical profile, biochemical profile and metabolic profile. Statistical analysis was performed by the SPSS program for Windows, version 10.1 (SPSS, Chicago, IL).

In the study (n = 50), PCOS patients were enrolled; 34 patients (68%) were vitamin D deficient (≤20 ng/ml) out of which 10 patients (29%) were severely deficient (<10 ng/ml). Twelve patients (24%) were vitamin D insufficient showing high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the PCOS women. The difference in mean serum fasting glucose pre- and post-supplementation of vitamin D in study group was found to be statistically significant with p value of 0.041. There was significant difference seen in insulin resistance (IR), serum fasting insulin, and increase in insulin sensitivity determined by QUICKI after supplementation with vitamin D.

It was concluded that there was a beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation on ovulatory dysfunctions and blood pressure. Post-supplementation, there were decrease in insulin resistance and increase in insulin sensitivity. In the study decreased serum fasting insulin level and fasting blood sugar after vitamin D supplementation suggests underlying role of vitamin D in glucose homeostasis.

Read the full article click on the following link : https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13224-017-1008-1