title: Is there a role for vitamin D in human reproduction?
abstract: Vitamin D is a steroid hormone with canonical roles in calcium metabolism and bone modeling. However, in recent years there has been a growing body of literature presenting associations between vitamin D levels and a variety of disease processes, including metabolic disorders such as diabetes and prediabetes and autoimmune conditions such as thyroid disease. This review focuses on the potential role of vitamin D in both male and female reproductive function. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed throughout central and peripheral organs of reproduction. VDR is often co-localized with its metabolizing enzymes, suggesting the importance of tissue specific modulation of active vitamin D levels. Both animal and human studies in males links vitamin D deficiency with hypogonadism and decreased fertility. In females, there is evidence for its role in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, leiomyomas, in-vitro fertilization, and pregnancy outcomes. Studies evaluating the effects of replacing vitamin D have shown variable results. There remains some concern that the effects of vitamin D on reproduction are not direct, but rather secondary to the accompanying hypocalcemia or estrogen dysregulation.
authors.forename: Anindita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nandi
authors.forename: Nandita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: Erwyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: Halis
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sonmez
authors.forename: Leonid
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poretsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D