Vitamin D Deficiency among Adolescent Females with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Study Objective: Studies have suggested that low vitamin D levels may play a role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of our study was to compare 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in adolescent females with and without PCOS. Design, Setting, and Participants: Retrospective chart review at a tertiary care medical center for female adolescents aged 12-21 years with serum 25(OH)D measurements within a 5-year period. Participants were categorized as having PCOS or as controls based on National Institutes of Health PCOS diagnostic criteria. Main Outcome Measure: Exact logistic regression analysis was done to compare normal (>= 30 ng/mL) vs low (<30 ng/mL) serum 25(OH)D levels in the PCOS and control groups. Results: Two hundred ninety-nine charts were reviewed and 107 participants were included in the study. Of the included participants, 37 were in the PCOS group and 70 were in the control group, with a mean age of 15.2 years. In the PCOS group, 97.2% were obese and vitamin D deficiency was noted among 62.2% females. The mean serum 25(OH)D level was 18.4 and 21.6 ng/mL in PCOS and control groups, respectively. The difference in mean 25(OH)D levels between the 2 groups was not statistically significant (P > .05) when controlled for ethnicity, body mass index percentile, and season. Conclusion: In our study, there was no statistically significant difference in mean 25(OH)D levels between PCOS and control groups. The majority of participants in PCOS group were obese. Further studies in adolescent females with PCOS and normal body mass index could be helpful in delineating the role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of PCOS.