The EFFECT of VITAMIN D REPLACEMENT THERAPY on INSULIN RESISTANCE and ANDROGEN LEVELS in WOMEN with POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME

Hadi Selimoglu1, Cevdet Duran2, Sinem Kiyici3, Canan Ersoy3, Metin Guclu3, Guven Ozkaya4, Ercan Tuncel3, Erdinc Erturk3, Sazi Imamoglu3
1Malatya State Hospital, Division of Endocrinology 2Konya Education and Research Hospital, Division of Endocrinology 3Uludag University, Faculty of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology 4Uludag University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biostatistic

Insulin resistance (IR) is one of the common features of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and recent studies indicate the possible role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of IR and glucose metabolism.

In this study, it was aimed to determine the effect of vitamin D replacement therapy on glucose metabolism, insulin and androgen levels in obese, insulin resistant women with PCOS.

Eleven women with PCOS were included into the study. The mean age of the patients were 23.6±5.7 years, body mass index 33.9±5.1 kg/m2. Six of the patients (54.5%) had acantosis nigricans and ten (90.9%) oligoamenorrhea.

The mean Ferriman Gallwey score was 14.1±4.6. Only two women were within the normal limits of vitamin D levels as >20 ng/ml.

Three weeks after the administration of the single dose of 300000 units of vitamin D3 orally, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 significantly increased from 16.9±16 ng/ml to 37.1±14.6 ng/ml (p:0.027) and only two women were detected to have vitamin D3 levels <20 ng/ml.

Although glucose and insulin levels were decreased nonsignificanltly, hemostasis model assesment-IR significantly decreased from 4.41±1.38 to 3.67±1.48 (p: 0.043).

No significant alterations were witnessed at the levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, total and free testosteron, androstenedion.

No correlation was found between vitamin D with HOMA and other hormonal parameters.

In conclusion, women with PCOS have mostly insufficient vitamin D levels, and vitamin D replacement therapy may have a benefical effect on IR in obese women with PCOS.


Ideally to improve insulin resistance levels should have been raised above 120nmol/l about 48ng/ml so I would predict that raising status higher for longer would have had a more beneficial impact.

Large single doses of Vitamin D3 are not a particularly natural way of raising status. 10.000iu/daily D3 for 30days would be better. Perhaps cheaper would be 50,000iu once every 5days for 30 days with 50,000iu every week thereafter.

Although effects on Insulin resistance probably meet a threshold around 120nmol/l or 48ng/ml there is still good reason for everyone (PARTICULARLY PCOS) to raise status to 55ng/ml maybe even to 60~70ng/ml.