TY - JOUR
T1 - The relationship between vitamin D metabolites and androgens in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
AU - Mesinovic, Jakub
AU - Teede, Helena J.
AU - Shorakae, Soulmaz
AU - Lambert, Gavin W.
AU - Lambert, Elisabeth A.
AU - Naderpoor, Negar
AU - de Courten, Barbora
PY - 2020/4/26
Y1 - 2020/4/26
N2 - Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age, with hyperandrogenism present in up to 90% of affected women. Some evidence suggests a link between vitamin D deficiency and PCOS features via insulin resistance and inflammation. Our aim was to explore the relationship between biochemical markers of vitamin D status and androgens in women with PCOS. This cross-sectional study used bio-banked samples from 46 pre-menopausal women with PCOS (mean ± SD: age 30 ± 6 years; BMI 29 ± 6 kg/m2). We measured 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), vitamin D-binding protein (DBP), total testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and calculated the free androgen index (FAI) and bioavailable and free 25(OH)D. Fasting glucose and insulin were used to calculate the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and body fat percentage was determined via dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was measured as a marker of inflammation. DBP was positively associated with total 25(OH)D and expectedly, negatively associated with free 25(OH)D. There were no associations between vitamin D metabolites and total testosterone, SHBG or FAI, even after adjusting for age, body fat percentage, HOMA-IR and hs-CRP. We found no associations between vitamin D metabolites and androgens in women with PCOS. Studies that have identified a vitamin D–androgen link have largely relied on methodology with numerous pitfalls; future studies should exclusively use gold-standard measures to confirm these findings in this population.
AB - Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age, with hyperandrogenism present in up to 90% of affected women. Some evidence suggests a link between vitamin D deficiency and PCOS features via insulin resistance and inflammation. Our aim was to explore the relationship between biochemical markers of vitamin D status and androgens in women with PCOS. This cross-sectional study used bio-banked samples from 46 pre-menopausal women with PCOS (mean ± SD: age 30 ± 6 years; BMI 29 ± 6 kg/m2). We measured 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), vitamin D-binding protein (DBP), total testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and calculated the free androgen index (FAI) and bioavailable and free 25(OH)D. Fasting glucose and insulin were used to calculate the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and body fat percentage was determined via dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was measured as a marker of inflammation. DBP was positively associated with total 25(OH)D and expectedly, negatively associated with free 25(OH)D. There were no associations between vitamin D metabolites and total testosterone, SHBG or FAI, even after adjusting for age, body fat percentage, HOMA-IR and hs-CRP. We found no associations between vitamin D metabolites and androgens in women with PCOS. Studies that have identified a vitamin D–androgen link have largely relied on methodology with numerous pitfalls; future studies should exclusively use gold-standard measures to confirm these findings in this population.
KW - Androgens
KW - Polycystic ovary syndrome
KW - Testosterone
KW - Vitamin D
KW - Vitamin D-binding protein
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85084002375&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/nu12051219
DO - 10.3390/nu12051219
M3 - Article
C2 - 32357490
AN - SCOPUS:85084002375
VL - 12
JO - Nutrients
JF - Nutrients
SN - 2072-6643
IS - 5
M1 - 1219
ER -