Vitamin D status among adolescent females with polycystic ovary syndrome

Background. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex disorder affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and leading to menstrual irregularities and hyperandrogenism. Studies have suggested that low vitamin D levels may play a role in the pathogenesis of PCOS. There is currently insufficient data regarding association of serum vitamin D levels and PCOS in adolescent females. The purpose of the study was to compare 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in adolescent females with and without PCOS. Materials and methods. Participants were categorized as having PCOS or as controls based on National Institutes of Health PCOS diagnostic criteria. Exact logistic regression analysis was done to compare normal (≥ 30 ng/mL) versus low (< 30 ng/mL) serum 25(OH)D levels in the PCOS and control groups. Data regarding the participant’s age, body mass index (BMI) percentile, serum 25(OH)D levels, and the season the blood was drawn were recorded in the database. Results. Eighty-two participants (32 were in the PCOS group and 50 were in the control group) met the inclusion criteria and were categorized as either PCOS or control. All participants in PCOS group had BMI greater than the 85th percentile. Therefore, participants with BMI percentile of less than 85th in the control group were excluded from analysis. The mean age of participants was 17.3 years. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were frequently diagnosed in our study population. Sufficient 25(OH)D levels were found in only 7 of 82 participants (8.5 %). The majority of participants with BMI greater than 95th percentile were vitamin D deficient with statistical difference in mean 25(OH)D levels based on each category of BMI percentile. Vitamin D deficiency was noted among 65.6 % of participants with PCOS versus 38.0 % in the control group. The mean serum 25(OH)D level was 16.02 ng/ml in the PCOS group and 22.80 ng/ml in the control group. The difference in 25(OH)D levels between the groups was statistically significant (P = 0.036). Conclusions. Vitamin D deficiency was noted among 65.6 % of participants with PCOS versus 38.0 % in the control group. The mean serum 25(OH)D level was 16.02 ng/ml in the PCOS group and 22.80 ng/ml in the control group.