Vitamin D and metabolic disturbances in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): A cross-sectional study

Y H M Krul-Poel*, P P Koenders, R P Steegers-Theunissen, E Ten Boekel, M M Ter Wee, Y Louwers, P Lips, J S E Laven, S Simsek*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

71 Citations (Scopus)
41 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare vitamin D status in women with PCOS versus fertile women and subsequently evaluate the association between vitamin D status and metabolic disturbances in PCOS women.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional comparison study of 639 women with PCOS and 449 fertile women. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was stratified into a severe deficient (< 25 nmol/l), insufficient (25-50 nmol/l), moderate (50-75 nmol/l) and adequate (> 75 nmol/l) status. The main outcome measures were the difference in vitamin D status between PCOS and fertile women, and the association between serum 25(OH)D and metabolic disturbances in PCOS women only.

RESULTS: Serum 25(OH)D was significantly lower in PCOS women compared to fertile controls (mean 25(OH)D of 49.0 nmol/l versus 64.5 nmol/l). An adjusted significant difference was seen between serum 25(OH)D and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) (β = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.63-0.91; p < 0.01), HDL-cholesterol (β = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.05-0.60, p < 0.01) and apolipoprotein A1 (β = 26.2; 95% CI: 7.5-45.0, p < 0.01) between the highest vitamin D group compared to the lowest vitamin D group.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that women with PCOS have a significantly lower serum 25(OH)D compared to fertile controls. A compromised vitamin D status in PCOS women is associated with a higher HOMA-IR and an unfavourable lipid profile. Large randomized controlled trials are necessary to explore the causality of this linkage.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0204748
Number of pages13
JournalPLoS One (online)
Volume13
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Dec 2018

Bibliographical note

Funding: The HAVEN study was financially
supported by Corporate Development International
(grant 2005) and the Netherlands Heart Foundation
(grant 2002.B027). Although Prof. J.S.E. Laven
received funding from commercial sources:
Corporate Development International, Ferring,
Merck Serono, Merck Sharpe and Dome, Organon Shering Plough and Serono, this does not have any influence on the publication of this manuscript.

Research programs

  • EMC MM-01-52-07
  • EMC MM-03-54-04-A

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