Therapeutic implications of vitamin D and calcium in overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To assess effects of vitamin D and Calcium (Ca) on hormonal and metabolic milieu of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Design: Single arm open label trial. Methods: Twelve overweight and vitamin D deficient women with PCOS underwent a 2 hour oral glucose tolerance testing at baseline and following 3-month supplementation with vitamin D (daily dose of 3533 IU, increased to 8533 IU after the first five participants) and 530 mg elemental Ca daily. Main outcome measures: Blood pressure (BP), plasma glucose, insulin, total testosterone (T) androstenedione (A), sex hormone binding globulin, lifestyle parameters were assessed at baseline and following 3-month intervention. Insulin resistance (IR) and area under the curve for glucose and insulin were computed; paired analyses were conducted. Results: Improved serum 25OHD (p < 0.001) and reductions in total T (p = 0.036) and A (p = 0.090) levels were noted following 3-month supplementation, compared to baseline. Significant lowering in BP parameters was seen in participants with baseline BP ≥ 120/80 mmHg (n = 8) and in those with baseline serum 25OHD ≤20 ng/ml (n = 9). Parameters of glucose homeostasis and IR remained unchanged (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Androgen and BP profiles improved followed three month intervention, suggesting therapeutic implications of vitamin D and Ca in overweight and vitamin D deficient women with PCOS.

Keywords::

• Androgen
• calcium
• insulin resistance
• polycystic ovary syndrome
• testosterone
• vitamin D

Acknowledgements

The authors extend their sincere appreciation to Ralph Jacob, Aida Groszmann and Christine Simpson of the YCCI core laboratory for their invaluable contributions towards completion of the study assays, to Dr’s Karl Insogna and Robert Sherwin (Endocrinology, Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine) for their insightful comments and guidance, and to the YCCI and HRU staff for their expertise and help with the OGTT tests.

Declaration of Interest: This research was made possible by CTSA Grant Number UL1 RR024139 from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and NIH roadmap for Medical Research. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of NCRR or NIH.