Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Slovak women with polycystic ovary syndrome and its relation to metabolic and reproductive abnormalities.

Objective: To investigate prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its relation to clinical, anthropometrical, and biochemical findings in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and controls.

Design: Case-control prospective observational study.

Settings: Department of Internal medicine, L.P. University hospital.

Patient(s): 99 PCOS women and 66 controls.

Main Outcome Measure(s): 25-hydroxyvitamin D level (25(OH)D), anthropometric, endocrine, and metabolic parameters in both groups.

Results: There was no significant difference in 25(OH)D levels between PCOS women and controls (24.79 ± 10.77 vs 25.07 ± 10.14 ng/ml, p = 0.868) and also in the prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency in both groups (80 vs 70 %; p = 0.138). Vitamin D-deficient PCOS patients had significantly higher body mass index (BMI), fasting insulin, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (median [quartiles]: 2.24 [1.38; 3.51] vs 1.23 [0.79; 1.66]; p< 0.05, age-and BMI-adjusted p = 0.036) and borderline higher glycemia (4.7 ± 0.5 vs 4.5 ± 0.4 mmol/l; p = 0.05; p_adj = 0.95) compared with vitamin D-deficient controls. PCOS women with metabolic syndrome (MS) had lower serum 25(OH)D compared with those without MS (20.6 ± 8.3 vs 25.9 ± 11.3 ng/ml, p = 0.049). 25(OH)D correlated positively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in all subjects (r = 0.159, p = 0.043) and negatively with luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio (r = - 0.211, p = 0.037).

Conclusion: Insulin resistance and other metabolic abnormalities in PCOS women seem to be related to PCOS rather than to vitamin D deficiency.