In PCOS, Vitamin D Supplementation May Improve Depression, Sexual Dysfunction

Low-dose dietary vitamin D supplementation may improve depression and sexual dysfunction among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) after 6 months, according to the results of a recent study.

This prospective cohort study included an evaluation of 42 women who did not have depression at baseline but had previously been diagnosed with PCOS by Rotterdam Criteria, had reported sexual dysfunction without severe depression, did not desire fertility, and were of reproductive age (between 18 and 39 years).

Participants consumed vitamin D, 600 IU, daily for a 6-month period. Total vitamin D serum levels were measured at baseline and at study completion. Participants also completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSI) at baseline and at study completion.

The results indicated that 90% of the participants (18 of 20) had improved FSFI scores at the end of the study period. BDI means had also changed from 13.8 ± 7.3 at baseline to 5.2 ± 4.1 (p<.001) at study completion for those who completed both BDI surveys.

Additionally, 84.6% of the participants (11 of 13) who reported mild to moderate depression had improved BDI scores at study completion. However, at 6 months, vitamin D levels remained unchanged. There were no significant associations with changes in sexual dysfunction and BDI.

“[Sexual dysfunction] and BDI scores improved over a 6-month period after supplementation with vitamin D, however this improvement was not correlated with total vitamin D levels at baseline and at 6 months. Correlations with bio-available vitamin D levels, the impact of placebo, and identifying a therapeutic dose of vitamin D remain to be elucidated,” the study authors concluded.

—Leigh Precopio

Reference:

Booth R, Danis RB, Maxwell R, et al. Is vitamin D supplementation related to sexual dysfunction (SDY) and depression in women with PCOS? Talk presented at: The American Society for Reproductive Medicine; October 17-21, 2020; Virtual. https://asrm.confex.com/asrm/2020/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/8993