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. 2024 Jan;67(1):101-111.
doi: 10.5468/ogs.23143. Epub 2023 Oct 17.

Association between serum vitamin D status and uterine leiomyomas: a case-control study

Chukwuemeka Chukwubuikem Okoro  1 , Okechukwu Christian Ikpeze  1   2 , George Uchenna Eleje  1   2 , Gerald Okanandu Udigwe  1   2 , Chukwuemeka Okwudili Ezeama  1   2 , Joseph Odirichukwu Ugboaja  1   2 , Chukwunonso Isaiah Enechukwu  1 , Osita Samuel Umeononihu  1   2 , Chukwudi Anthony Ogabido  1   2 , Charlotte Blanche Oguejiofor  1   2 , Tobechi Kingsley Njoku  1 , Richard Obinwanne Egeonu  1 , Chigozie Geoffrey Okafor  1 , Hillary Ikechukwu Obiagwu  1 , Chukwudubem Chinagorom Onyejiaka  1 , Afam Ben Obidike  3 , Christian Ejike Onah  4 , Ifeanyi Uzukwu  5 , Amarachukwu Doris Okoro  6 , Evaristus Chino Ezema  7 , Adaobi Maryann Ibekwe  8 , Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu  1   2
Affiliations

Association between serum vitamin D status and uterine leiomyomas: a case-control study

Chukwuemeka Chukwubuikem Okoro et al. Obstet Gynecol Sci. 2024 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: Uterine leiomyoma is a common gynecological condition that negatively affects women's quality of life. Vitamin D plays an important role in tumor development and progression. However, clinical studies comparing serum vitamin D levels between women with and without uterine leiomyomas are limited and inconclusive. This study aimed to compare serum vitamin D levels in women with and without uterine leiomyomas.

Methods: This hospital-based case-control study included 150 women who visited a gynecological clinic. The cases included 75 women with uterine leiomyoma, whereas the controls included 75 age-and parity-matched participants without uterine leiomyoma. Serum vitamin D levels were measured in each participant and volumes of the uterine leiomyomas were determined using the water displacement method following myomectomy. The statistical significance was inferred at P<0.05.

Results: The mean serum vitamin D level was 15.26±4.96 ng/mL and 22.45±6.93 ng/mL for the case and control groups, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (t-value -7.302 and P<0.001). Within the fibroid group, nine (12.0%), 49 (65.33%), and 17 (22.67%) participants had vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency, respectively; and in the control group, two (2.67%), 24 (45.33%), and 39 (52.0%) participants had vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency, respectively. There was significant negative correlation between the fibroid volume and the serum vitamin D level (r=-0.591, P<0.001).

Conclusion: Women with uterine leiomyoma had lower vitamin D levels than women in the control group. Lower vitamin D levels were associated with larger fibroid masses. Therefore, vitamin D supplementation may reduce fibroid growth and development.

Keywords: Fibroid; Hypovitaminosis D; Leiomyoma; Vitamin D; Vitamin D deficiency.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Recruitment flow chart.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Bar charts of the percentages of various vitamin D status in the cases and controls.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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