title: Vitamin D in the aetiology and management of polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: Vitamin D deficiency is common in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), with the 67-85% of women with PCOS having serum concentrations of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) <20 ng/ml. Vitamin D deficiency may exacerbate symptoms of PCOS, with observational studies showing lower 25OHD levels were associated with insulin resistance, ovulatory and menstrual irregularities, lower pregnancy success, hirsutism, hyperandrogenism, obesity and elevated cardiovascular disease risk factors. There is some, but limited, evidence for beneficial effects of vitamin D supplementation on menstrual dysfunction and insulin resistance in women with PCOS. Vitamin D deficiency may play a role in exacerbating PCOS, and there may be a place for vitamin D supplementation in the management of this syndrome, but current evidence is limited and additional randomized controlled trials are required to confirm the potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation in this population.
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia. rebecca.thomson@unisa.edu.au
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spedding
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Buckley
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D