VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY AS A RISK FACTOR FOR POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that is very common in reproductive age women and the evidence associated with the vitamin D deficiency is increasing. This was a cross sectional study conducted to determine the correlation between vitamin D deficiency and PCOS in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. A total of 80 women (40 women with PCOS and 40 controls) aged 18–45 years old, were recruited from fertility clinics and daily OPD of DHQ hospitals. Serum 25(OH)D, hormonal (testosterone, LH, FSH), and metabolic parameters (BMI, insulin resistance, lipid profile) were analyzed. Results indicated that 72.5% of PCOS patients were vitamin D deficient (<20 ng/ml) as against 35% in the control group (p < 0.001). Elevated serum testosterone (4.9 vs. 3.9ng/dL, p = 0. 003), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR 3.8 vs. 2.4, p = 0. 01) and dyslipidemia (LDL 142vs. 118 mg/dL, p = 0. 02) were significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, these findings show that vitamin D deficiency is a modifiable risk factor for PCOS in KP, Pakistan and that supplementation programs targeting this deficiency are required.