BMI and season are associated with vitamin D deficiency in women with impaired fertility: a two-centre analysis

Purpose Animal and human studies suggest that vitamin D regulates functions of the reproductive system. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in women of reproductive age. Vitamin D status has been associated with in vitro fertilisation outcome, features of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis. The aims of our study were to investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency of infertile women living in central Germany, to identify risk factors for vitamin D deficiency and to specify seasonal variations of vitamin D status.

This was a retrospective cohort study at an academic tertiary care centre (N = 113) and an Outpatient Centre for Reproductive Medicine (N = 193) of women presenting for infertility treatment. The statistical evaluation was descriptive and explorative. Possible risk factors associated with an increased risk for vitamin D deficiency were assessed using multiple logistic regression models. Variables with p value less than 0.05 were further assessed in a multivariable logistic regression model.

Overall, 98.2 % of patients at centre 1 and 81.3 % of women with impaired fertility at centre 2 had deficient or insufficient vitamin D levels. Overweight BMI and limited exposure to sun (winter, spring and autumn trimester) were associated with an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D levels did not vary according to age or infertility associated disorders (e.g. endometriosis, PCOS).

The rate of vitamin D deficiency among women with impaired fertility is alarming. Prospective studies are pressingly needed to confirm a causal relationship and to investigate the potential therapeutic benefits of vitamin D supplementation in this population. Similar content being viewed by others

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Ethical approval All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. For this type of study, formal consent is not required. Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Dressler, N., Chandra, A., Aguirre Dávila, L. et al. BMI and season are associated with vitamin D deficiency in women with impaired fertility: a two-centre analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet 293, 907–914 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-015-3950-4 Received: Accepted: Published: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-015-3950-4