Evaluation of insulin resistance and vitamin D levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with many long term health problems such as increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors. Several reports indicated that PCOS patients have lower vitamin D status compared to healthy subjects. In our study we aimed to investigate whether vitamin D deficiency has effect on the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in PCOS. Material and Methods: Fourty eight patients with PCOS and 24 healthy controls were included in the study. Following the physical examination and anthropometric measurements of the patients and healthy subjects, glycemic control data, lipid values, parathormone, vitamin D status and hormonal parameters were studied. Results: In our study, vitamin D levels were significantly lower in PCOS patients (19.7±26.9 ng/mL) compared with controls (31.9±35 ng/mL, p<0.01). Vitamin D levels were found to be lower in the obese PCOS group compared to those with non-obese, but not significant. Statistically significant inverse correlation was found between vitamin D levels and body mass index (BMI). It was also found between vitamin D and low density cholesterol (LDL-C). Conclusions: Our findings revealed increased likelihood of metabolic and dyslipidemic manifestations in PCOS patients compared to control group, while no significant difference was noted in vitamin D levels among PCOS patients in terms of co-morbid obesity. The detection of lower vitamin D levels in PCOS patients suggested that this may be one of the causes of insulin resistance and metabolic complications in these patients.

Keywords

• polycyctic ovary syndrome
• vitamin D levels
• obesity
• insulin resistance

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