Vitamin D and PCOS

Vitamin D is a key player in reproductive health. It is required for ovarian follicular development, regulation of AMH and FSH levels, progesterone production, and most importantly glucose balance, all of which are affected in patients struggling with PCOS.

A recent meta-analysis assessed the association of serum Vitamin D levels and the endocrine and metabolic manifestations that can occur in patients with PCOS.

“We found that lower serum vitamin D levels were related to metabolic and hormonal disorders in women with PCOS. Specifically, PCOS patients with Vitamin D deficiency were more likely to have dysglycemia (e.g., increased levels of fasting glucose and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR)) compared to those without Vitamin D deficiency.”

They also investigated the effect of Vitamin D supplementation in patients with PCOS, with no evidence showing that it reduced or mitigated the hormone and metabolic issues that PCOS patients suffer from.

Although, a recent randomized, double-blinded, placebo- controlled trial (one of the best types of studies to evaluate the efficacy of a treatment) was conducted evaluating Vitamin D supplementation in patients with PCOS. Metabolic profiles were looked at in insulin-resistant patients with PCOS. Patients were either treated with 1000IU/day, 4000IU/day, or placebo for 12 weeks. Patients dosing at 4000IU/day had significant improvements in glucose metabolism, such as reduced fasting plasma glucose, reduced serum insulin concentrations and reduced HOMA-IR. Lipid profiles significantly improved as well in patients taking 4000IU/day of Vitamin D compared to patients given 1000IU/day and placebo.

Another study examined co-administration of Vitamin D and probiotic support on mental health, hormonal, inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters in women with PCOS. In the treatment group, a significant reduction in total testosterone, hirsutism, and CRP (inflammatory marker) was seen compared to placebo. Mental health parameters were also assessed using questionnaires and scoring methods for stress, anxiety and depression, all of which significantly improved in patients being treated with Vitamin D and probiotics.

Vitamin D also showed having a significant role in PCOS patients going through IVF procedures in a recent study. Both implantation rates and clinical pregnancy rates were much higher in the group who had either a normal serum Vitamin D level (25OH-VD>20ng/mL) or had deficient Vitamin D levels and received Vitamin D supplementation to attain normal serum Vitamin D levels prior to procedure.

One of the biggest, marked differences in this study was the larger number of high-quality embryos produced and the available embryos which could be transferred in the same two groups mentioned above, indicating that adequate serum Vitamin D levels are critical for embryo quality.

Vitamin D is a very common deficiency in women, with and without PCOS. It should be part of a standard infertility work-up since it is a key contributor to your fertility success.

In good health,

Dr. Kirti Deol