Vitamin D and benign gynaecological diseases: a critical analysis of the current evidence.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble pro-hormone that plays an important role in bone homeostasis; beside this principal function, vitamin D promotes modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and reduction of inflammation. In addition, several in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency could increase the risk of cancer, autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, vitamin D plays also an important role in female reproduction, because vitamin D receptors are expressed in ovarian tissue, endometrium, fallopian epithelial cells as well as in decidua and placenta. We aimed to review the most updated evidence, which suggests a link between vitamin D metabolism and the development of some gynaecological diseases, such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids and polycystic ovary syndrome.
a Department of Clinical Science and Community Health , Istituto Ostetrico e Ginecologico 'Luigi Mangiagalli', Università degli Studi , Milano , Italy.
Laura
L
Buggio
a Department of Clinical Science and Community Health , Istituto Ostetrico e Ginecologico 'Luigi Mangiagalli', Università degli Studi , Milano , Italy.
Elena
E
Roncella
a Department of Clinical Science and Community Health , Istituto Ostetrico e Ginecologico 'Luigi Mangiagalli', Università degli Studi , Milano , Italy.
Edgardo
E
Somigliana
a Department of Clinical Science and Community Health , Istituto Ostetrico e Ginecologico 'Luigi Mangiagalli', Università degli Studi , Milano , Italy.
Paolo
P
Vercellini
D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism*
D014807:Vitamin D
Endometriosis; overdiagnosis; polycystic ovary syndrome; uterine fibroids; vitamin D