Is there a role for vitamin D in human reproduction?

Nandi A, Anindita Nandi, Nandita Sinha, Sinha N, Erwyn Ong, Ong E, Halis Sonmez, Sonmez H, Poretsky L, Leonid Poretsky
Hormone molecular biology and clinical investigation · 2016 · vol. 25(1) , pp. 15–28 · doi:10.1515/hmbci-2015-0051 · PMID:26943610 · W2334740656
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This review examines evidence linking vitamin D deficiency to male hypogonadism and infertility, and discusses its potential roles in female reproductive disorders like PCOS and endometriosis.

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Abstract

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone with canonical roles in calcium metabolism and bone modeling. However, in recent years there has been a growing body of literature presenting associations between vitamin D levels and a variety of disease processes, including metabolic disorders such as diabetes and prediabetes and autoimmune conditions such as thyroid disease. This review focuses on the potential role of vitamin D in both male and female reproductive function. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed throughout central and peripheral organs of reproduction. VDR is often co-localized with its metabolizing enzymes, suggesting the importance of tissue specific modulation of active vitamin D levels. Both animal and human studies in males links vitamin D deficiency with hypogonadism and decreased fertility. In females, there is evidence for its role in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, leiomyomas, in-vitro fertilization, and pregnancy outcomes. Studies evaluating the effects of replacing vitamin D have shown variable results. There remains some concern that the effects of vitamin D on reproduction are not direct, but rather secondary to the accompanying hypocalcemia or estrogen dysregulation.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Reproduction Reproduction Vitamin D Animals Animals Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Female Fertilization in Vitro Fertilization in Vitro Humans Humans Infertility Infertility Infertility Infertility

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