Vitamin D deficiency – A silent threat in expression of polycystic ovary syndrome: A case-control study

Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrinopathy in childbearing-aged women. Vitamin D deficiency
(VDD) is now considered an alarming contributor to the pathophysiology of this syndrome. The levels of serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin
D [25(OH)D] can potentially modulate features of PCOS, such as hyperandrogenism. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted
with 80 patients with PCOS, and their gender, age (18–35 years), and ethnicity-matched 100 healthy controls, from July 2023 to March
2024, in and around Kolkata. With their informed consent, the anthropometric parameters were recorded for these volunteers. Free
cortisol and sex hormone-binding-globulin (SHBG) were evaluated in the saliva of both groups of volunteers. Serum levels of vitamin
D, estradiol (E2), LH, FSH, progesterone, and free testosterone were estimated. SPSS and Microsoft Office Excel were used for data
analysis. Results: The prevalence of VDD and VD insufficiency (VDI) among the studied PCOS population was 84 and 11%, respectively.
Vitamin D showed a significant inverse correlation with the LH/FSH ratio and free testosterone and an agonistic association with SHBG,
estradiol, and progesterone. Additionally, it was found that VDD had a positive association with stress. The cortisol levels in the PCOS
patients belonging to both the normal and overweight/obese categories were greater than those of BMI-matched control participants.
Conclusion: VDD might be a silent risk factor in the penetrance of a multifaceted syndrome like PCOS.