Menstrual irregularity in women of reproductive age is a very common problem, and vitamin D deficiency is also highly prevalent. In addition to its role in controlling bone mineralization and regulation of immunity, vitamin D also plays a role in reproductive physiology through vitamin D receptors, which are found in female reproductive organs such as the ovaries (particularly in granulosa cells) and the menstrual cycle, uterus, and placenta.
Previously a study had shown that in the group of young women with low vitamin D levels, 40% experienced long menstrual cycles, 27% experienced oligomenorrhea, and 13% had amenorrhea, whereas, in the group with normal vitamin D levels, only 12% experienced long menstrual cycles, 6% experienced oligomenorrhea, and 6% had amenorrhea.
Other studies that assessed the relationship between 25OHD levels and menstrual cycle characteristics, including cycle length and cycle irregularity, have also been carried out. This study was a cross-sectional study examining vitamin D levels in women with menstrual irregularities after excluding any obvious causes of menstrual irregularities (n=83) compared with women with the same profile but no menstrual irregularities (n=83).
The results showed that a decrease in vitamin D levels was associated with 13.3 times the risk of menstrual cycle irregularities (OR 13.30; 95% CI 5.79-30.60; p<0.001). 25OHD levels were not associated with age or body mass index. There was also a significant difference in mean vitamin D levels between women with irregular vs. regular cycles (p<0.001).
It was concluded that vitamin D plays a role in reproductive physiology specific to the menstrual cycle and ovulation. Vitamin D may be considered for supplementation in women with menstrual cycle irregularities. Further studies are recommended to reach more conclusive results regarding the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation for correcting menstrual irregularities and treating infertility, as well as other benefits.
Image: Illustration (Source: Freepik)
References:
1. Singh V, Tamar N, Lone Z, Das E, Sahu R, Majumdar S. Association between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level and menstrual cycle length and regularity: A cross-sectional observational study. Int J Reprod BioMed 2021;19:979-86. https://doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v19i11.9913
2.Łagowska K. The relationship between vitamin D status and the menstrual cycle in young women: A preliminary study. Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1729.
