Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Jun;218(6):608.e1-608.e6.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2018.03.012. Epub 2018 Mar 13.

Vitamin D is associated with bioavailability of androgens in eumenorrheic women with prior pregnancy loss

Daniel L Kuhr  1 , Lindsey A Sjaarda  1 , Zeina Alkhalaf  1 , Ukpebo R Omosigho  1 , Matthew T Connell  1 , Robert M Silver  2 , Keewan Kim  1 , Neil J Perkins  1 , Tiffany L Holland  1 , Torie C Plowden  3 , Enrique F Schisterman  1 , Sunni L Mumford  4
Affiliations

Vitamin D is associated with bioavailability of androgens in eumenorrheic women with prior pregnancy loss

Daniel L Kuhr et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Prior studies have reported mixed results regarding relationships between vitamin D, androgens, and sex hormone-binding globulin in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. However, less is known regarding these associations in eumenorrheic, premenopausal women.

Objective: Our objective was to study the relationships between serum vitamin D and androgen biomarkers in eumenorrheic women with a history of pregnancy loss who were attempting pregnancy.

Study design: This was an analysis of a cohort of 1191 participants from the Effects of Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction trial (2006-2012). Participants were attempting to conceive, aged 18-40 years, with 1-2 documented prior pregnancy losses and no history of infertility, and recruited from 4 academic medical centers in the United States. Serum vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) and hormone concentrations were measured at baseline.

Results: Vitamin D concentration was negatively associated with free androgen index (percentage change [95% confidence interval, -5% (-8% to -2%)] per 10 ng/mL increase) and positively associated with sex hormone-binding globulin (95% confidence interval, 4% [2-7%]), although not with total testosterone, free testosterone, or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate after adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking status, race, income, education, physical activity, and season of blood draw.

Conclusion: Overall, vitamin D was associated with sex hormone-binding globulin and free androgen index in eumenorrheic women with prior pregnancy loss, suggesting that vitamin D may play a role in the bioavailability of androgens in eumenorrheic women. We are limited in making assessments regarding directionality, given the cross-sectional nature of our study.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00467363.

Keywords: androgens; premenopausal women; sex hormone–binding globulin; vitamin D.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts to disclose.

References

    1. Johnson LE, DeLuca HF. Reproductive defects are corrected in vitamin d-deficient female rats fed a high calcium, phosphorus and lactose diet. J Nutr 2002;132:2270–3. - PubMed
    1. Norman AW. From vitamin D to hormone D: fundamentals of the vitamin D endocrine system essential for good health. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;88:491S–9S. - PubMed
    1. Luk J, Torrealday S, Neal Perry G, Pal L. Relevance of vitamin D in reproduction. Hum Reprod 2012;27:3015–27. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kinuta K, Tanaka H, Moriwake T, Aya K, Kato S, Seino Y. Vitamin D is an important factor in estrogen biosynthesis of both female and male gonads. Endocrinology 2000;141: 1317–24. - PubMed
    1. Halhali A, Acker GM, Garabedian M. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 induces in vivo the decidualization of rat endometrial cells. J Reprod Fertil 1991;91:59–64. - PubMed

Publication types

Associated data