Association between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level and menstrual cycle length and regularity: A cross-sectional observational study.

BACKGROUND: Research examining the role of vitamin D deficiency and the development of menstrual disorders in women is of widespread interest. Studies have been published showing that supplementation with high-dose vitamin D can lead to the restoration of the menstrual cycle. We lack adequate information regarding the effect of vitamin D levels on the physiology of menstruation and further on fertility in women of reproductive age due to the contradictory results reported by studies. OBJECTIVE: To study the association of 25-hydroxy vitamin D with menstrual cycle characteristics including long and short cycle length and cycle irregularity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, serum vitamin D levels of 166 women attending an outpatient department with menstrual irregularities after excluding all obvious causes of menstrual disorders (n = 83) between April-June 2019 were measured and were compared with women of similar profiles with complaints other than menstrual irregularities (n = 83). RESULTS: A decreased level of vitamin D was associated with a 13.3 times odds of an irregular cycle (OR (95% CI): 13.30 (5.79-30.60), p < 0.001). 25-hydroxy vitamin D was not associated with age or body mass index. We found a significant difference (p < 0.001) in mean vitamin D levels among the females with irregular cycles vs. regular cycles. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D plays a role in the physiology of reproduction specific to the menstrual cycle and ovulation. Long-term prospective studies assessing the exact cutoff value and the exact dose of supplementation required are needed.

Relationship of subclinical hypothyroidism and obesity in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of obesity and its relationship with subclinical hypothyroidism in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). To compare the clinico-biochemical parameters of obese and lean PCOS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 287 women with PCOS were included in this study after consent. The demographic, anthropometry, clinical, and hormonal (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] and total testosterone) parameters were recorded along with pelvic ultrasonography (USG) for all PCOS subjects. They were divided into lean (body mass index [BMI] between 18.5 and 22.9) and overweight (BMI ≥23), and the number of subclinical hypothyroid patients were calculated in each group. The clinico-biochemical parameters of both groups were compared. RESULTS: The majority (61%) of our patients were overweight. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism between overweight and lean PCOS patients. The obese PCOS patients were older than lean PCOS patients, and they had higher serum testosterone with elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP). CONCLUSION: The majority of our patients were found to be overweight and there was no association between obesity and subclinical hypothyroidism among PCOS patients.