Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency (25OHD) is common in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). 67–85% of female patients with PCOS have low concentration level of 25OHD (<20 ng/ml). It is believed that low concentration levels of 25OHD may exacerbate the symptoms of PCOS.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentration of 25OHD in women diagnosed with PCOS and the analysis of the relationship between 25OHD concentration and such features as: BMI, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR >1.0), menstrual disorders, clinical, and biochemical hyperandrogenism.

Material and methods: Clinical and biochemical data of 51 women with PCOS (mean age 25.4 years) were analysed. PCOS was diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria (2003). In the tested group, 46 (90.2%) patients with PCOS had menstrual disorders, 44 (86.3%) had hirsutism, 43 (84.3%) insulin resistance, and 14 (27.4%) suffered from obesity. The analysis focused on the dependence between 25OHD concentration and BMI, HOMA-IR >1.0, menstrual disorders, hirsutism, testosterone, androstendione, and DHEA-S. In statistical analysis a Pearson’s correlation coefficient, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient as well as χ² test, Fisher’s exact test and Mann–Whitney U test were used as appropriate. A P value <0.05 was considered to be significant.

Results: 25OHD concentration ranged from 4.1 to 73.3 ng/ml (mean concentration of 29.25 ng/ml). 15 patients (29.4%) had 25OHD concentration level below 20 ng/ml. There was found a statistically significant negative correlation between 25OHD concentration and concentration of serum testosterone (P=0.01). The negative correlation between 25OHD concentration and the incidence of obesity, HOMA-IR >1.0, hirsutism, menstrual disorders, and serum androstendione level and also DHEA-S was not significant statistically.

Conclusions: i) The percentage of female patients with PCOS and 25OHD deficiency is significantly lower than in most previously published studies.

ii) In women with PCOS, the low concentration level of 25OHD is associated in a statistically significant way with higher serum testosterone level.