Endocrine Abstracts

Background: PCOS women usually have metabolic disturbances particularly insulin resistance. Previous studies suggest that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to the development of insulin resistance. Our aim is to study the effect of vitamin D supplementation on clinical and biochemical parameters in vitamin D deficient PCOS women.

Methods: At baseline, 50 PCOS women were enrolled (37 vitamin D deficiency and 13 vitamin D sufficiency). Thirty-seven PCOS women on LSM (low-calorie diet 1000–1200 kcal/d and aerobic exercise walking 3.2 km/d, 5 days/wk) received 60 000 IU cholecalciferol weekly for 8 weeks followed by once a month. Clinical, anthropometric and biochemical parameters were performed at baseline and after 12 weeks.

Results: Thirty PCOS women completed the study. 25(OH) D levels significantly increased from 7.55±4.10 at baseline to 34.16±4.14 ng/ml at 3 months. Following vitamin D supplementation for 3 months, significant improvement of BMI and metabolic parameters like FPG, 2 hr glucose, HOMA IR, HOMA B, TG levels and TC was observed in women who followed LSM. However, there was no change in serum testosterone.11/30 patients in the supplementation group who did not comply with LSM also showed significant decrease in FPG, 2 hr PG, and HOMA IR.

Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation has beneficial effect on insulin resistance and metabolic parameters in vitamin D deficient PCOS women. Both vitamin D supplementation and LSM have complementary effects in improving BMI and HOMA indices, glucose and lipid metabolism in the setting of PCOS with vitamin D deficiency, suggesting a role of vitamin D in the management of PCOS.