Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Surrogate Markers of Fertility in PCOS Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Surrogate Markers of Fertility in PCOS Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Lerchbaum et al., 2021 | Nutrients | Rct
Citation
Lerchbaum Elisabeth, Theiler-Schwetz Verena, ... Trummer Christian. Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Surrogate Markers of Fertility in PCOS Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2021-Feb-07;13(2). doi:10.3390/nu13020547
Abstract
Vitamin D (VD) might play an important role in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and female fertility. However, evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCT) is sparse. We examined VD effects on anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and other endocrine markers in PCOS and non-PCOS women. This is a post hoc analysis of a single-center, double-blind RCT conducted between December 2011 and October 2017 at the endocrine outpatient clinic at the Medical University of Graz, Austria. We included 180 PCOS women and 150 non-PCOS women with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations <75 nmol/L in the trial. We randomized subjects to receive 20,000 IU of VD3/week (119 PCOS, 99 non-PCOS women) or placebo (61 PCOS, 51 non-PCOS women) for 24 weeks. Outcome measures were AMH, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and androstenedione. In PCOS women, we observed a significant treatment effect on FSH (mean treatment effect 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.087 to 1.799, p = 0.031) and LH/FSH ratio (mean treatment effect -0.335, 95% CI -0.621 to 0.050, p = 0.022), whereas no significant effect was observed in non-PCOS women. In PCOS women, VD treatment for 24 weeks had a significant effect on FSH and LH/FSH ratio but no effect on AMH levels.
Key Findings
In PCOS women, VD treatment for 24 weeks had a significant effect on FSH and LH/FSH ratio but no effect on AMH levels.
Outcomes Measured
- Requires manual extraction
Population
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | See abstract |
| Sample Size | 180 |
| Age Range | See abstract |
| Condition | See abstract |
MeSH Terms
- Adult
- Anti-Mullerian Hormone
- Austria
- Biomarkers
- Dietary Supplements
- Double-Blind Method
- Female
- Fertility
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone
- Humans
- Luteinizing Hormone
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Time Factors
- Vitamin D
Evidence Classification
- Level: Rct
- Publication Types: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial
- Vertical: vitamin-d-fertility
Provenance
- PMID: 33562394
- DOI: 10.3390/nu13020547
- PMCID: PMC7914670
- Verified: 2026-04-09 via PubMed E-utilities API
Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09