title: The effect of vitamin D on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most of the women suffer from vaginal atrophy and dryness, and therefore, efficient and safe treatment is needed to improve vaginal lubrication. Vitamin D has several important functions which may be effective in proliferation and repair of the epithelial tissue. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D vaginal suppositories on maturation index, pH, and dryness in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women were enrolled in this double-blind clinical trial, in whom menopause occurred at least one year ago. Those women who had an abnormal Papanicolaou smear, had undergone hormonal treatment, or have had vaginal infection in the previous year were excluded. Forty-four women who found eligible were randomized into two equal groups, the treatment and control groups, which received vitamin D and placebo vaginal suppository daily for 8 weeks, respectively. Vaginal pH and maturation value were measured at the beginning and end of the study. Pain, dryness, and paleness were assessed before treatment and at the end of the 2, 4, and 8 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the treatment group, the number (Mean ± SD) of superficial cells increased (69.76 ± 12.4) and vaginal pH decreased (1.42 ± 0.67) significantly compared to the control group after 56 days. The mean pain significantly reduced after 8 weeks in the treatment group (1.23 ± 0.53) compared to the control group 1.95 ± 0.74 (P < 0.001). The mean of dryness and paleness reduced significantly in the treatment group versus control at 56 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D is effective in improving the maturation index and decreased the pH and dryness of the vaginal atrophy due to menopause.
authors: Department of Midwifery, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.
authors: Parastou
authors: P
authors: Rad
authors: Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors: Mitra
authors: M
authors: Tadayon
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Nanotechnology Research Center and School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors: Mohammadreza
authors: M
authors: Abbaspour
authors: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors: Seyed Mahmood
authors: SM
authors: Latifi
authors: Department of Pathology, Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors: Iran
authors: I
authors: Rashidi
authors: Department of Anatomy, Yasouj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.
authors: Hamdollah
authors: H
authors: Delaviz
keywords: Estrogen replacement; Iran; menopause; vaginal suppository; vitamin D