Comparison of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and Calcium Levels between Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Normal Women

BACKGROUND: Given the relationship of vitamin D deficiency with insulin resistance syndrome as the component of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the main aim of this study was to compare serum level of 25hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] between PCOS patients and normal individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted to compare 25(OH)D level between117 normal and 125 untreated PCOS cases at our clinic in Arash Hospital, Tehran, Iran, during 2011-2012. The obtained levels of 25(OH)D were classified as follows: lower than 25 nmol/ml as severe deficiency, between 25-49.9 nmol/ml as deficiency, 50-74.9 nmol/ml as insufficiency, and above 75 nmol/ml asnormal. In addition, endocrine and metabolic variables were evaluated. RESULTS: Among PCOS patients, our findings shows 3(2.4%) normal, 7(5.6%) with insufficiency, 33(26.4%) with deficiency and 82(65.6%) with severe deficiency, whereas in normal participants, 5(4.3%) normal, 4(3.4%) with insufficiency, 28(23.9%) with deficiency and 80(68.4%) with severe deficiency. Comparison of 25(OH)D level between two main groups showed no significant differences (p= 0.65). Also, the calcium and 25(OH)D levels had no significant differences in patients with overweight (p=0.22) and insulin resistance (p=0.64). But we also found a relationship between 25(OH)D level and metabolic syndrome (p=0.01). Furthermore, there was a correlation between 25(OH)D and body mass index (BMI) in control group (p=0.01), while the C-reactive protein (CRP) level was predominantly higher in PCOS group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Although the difference of 25(OH)D level between PCOS and healthy women is not significant, the high prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency is a real alarm for public health care system and may influence our results.