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. 2021 Nov 1;84(11):1054-1059.
doi: 10.1097/JCMA.0000000000000607.

Vitamin D in gynecological diseases

Ta-Wei Chu  1   2 , Jing-Yun Jhao  3 , Ta-Jen Lin  3 , Tzu-Wei Lin  4 , Chia-Lin Wang  4 , Huan-Shuo Chang  5 , Li-Chun Liu  1   6 , Cheng-Chang Chang  1
Affiliations

Vitamin D in gynecological diseases

Ta-Wei Chu et al. J Chin Med Assoc. .

Abstract

Background: Most reproductive system studies suggest the protective effects of vitamin D, but vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are growing global health issues. The present study investigates the association between vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency and gynecologic diseases to identify illness risks at different serum vitamin D levels in Taiwan.

Methods: A total of 7699 female adults aged ≥20 years with results for both serum vitamin D and gynecologic-associated diseases were drawn from the Taiwan MJ cohort. We analyzed the correlation between serum vitamin D levels and results from reproductive system evaluations, including history of dysmenorrhea, results of Pap smear, high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the cervix, mammography, and ultrasound of breast and pelvis.

Results: Over 80% of participants showed vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency. Participants with abnormal Pap smear results, high-risk HPV infection, and history of dysmenorrhea showed significantly lower levels of serum vitamin D (p < 0.001-0.05). Serum vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with positive high-risk HPV infection of the cervix (p < 0.05) and dysmenorrhea (p < 0.001). After controlling for age as a confounding variable for each gynecologic disease, level of serum vitamin D was significantly associated with abnormal breast ultrasound (odds ratio = 0.724) and uterus ultrasound (odds ratio = 0.673 - 0.8), and dysmenorrhea (odds ratio = 0.829).

Conclusion: Associations were found between vitamin D deficiency and endometriosis, uterine myoma, dysmenorrhea, abnormal Pap smear results, and high-risk HPV infection of the cervix. Therefore, vitamin D supplements may present a cost-effective benefit for the prevention and treatment of gynecologic diseases, and thus reduction of healthcare expenditures.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article.

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