Vol 15, Issue 12, 2022 Online - 2455-3891 Print - 0974-2441 ASSESSMENT OF VITAMIN D AND CALCIUM LEVELS IN WOMEN WITH PCOS: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY SARU ARORA 1 , PARNEET KAUR 1 , RAMA GARG 1 , MANINDER KAUR 2 , SANGEETA RANI 1 * 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India. 2 Department of Biochemistry, Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India. Email: drsangeetaaggarwal@gmail.com Received: 04 August 2022, Revised and Accepted: 28 September 2022 ABSTRACT Objectives: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrinal disorder in the women of reproductive age group. The present study aims to investigate the correlation between Vitamin D and calcium levels in PCOS subjects as well as to establish the correlation between body mass index, hyperandrogenism, and metabolic syndrome in various phenotypes of PCOS. Methods: In the present prospective and observational study, a total of 80 patients diagnosed with PCOS were recruited. The recruited patients were divided in the following two groups - study group (60 women diagnosed with PCOS based on Rotterdam criteria); and control group (20 women without PCOS recruited from outpatient department and infertility clinics). Baseline characteristics, Vitamin D level, and serum calcium levels were measured in the two groups and then compared. Results: The mean age of patients in both the groups was found to be comparable (study group: 26.45±5.95 years versus control group: 28.40±6.65 years; p=0.221). The difference of mean 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D3 level was found to be statistically highly significant (study group 14.71 [±9.12] ng/mL versus control group was 22.47 [±6.71] ng/mL; p=0.0008). The difference of mean serum calcium level was also found to be statistically highly significant (study group 9.14 [±0.50] mg/mL, and control group 9.74 [±0.45] mg/mL; p<0.0001). Conclusion: Women with PCOS have a significantly lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and calcium levels as compared to controls. There is need for routine Vitamin D3 and calcium screening in all patients of PCOS for better insight into its role in the syndrome. Screening and correction of Vitamin D3 and calcium deficiency may prevent PCOS and its manifestations. Keywords: Vitamin D, Polycystic ovarian syndrome, Calcium. INTRODUCTION A gynecological disease complex called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects 3–26% of women [1]. Stein and Leventhal first described the disease as a triad of oligomenorrhea or anovulation, hyperandrogenism and hirsutism in 1935 [2]. It is also regarded as a metabolic disorder since PCOS frequently has characteristics similar to the primary components of the metabolic syndrome, such as obesity, glucose intolerance, atherogenic dyslipidemia, and hypertension [3]. Among PCOS patients, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome ranges from 10% to 43% [4]. Pregnant women with this condition are more likely to have perinatal mortality, fetal macrosomia, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and small-for-gestational- age newborns [5]. Type 2 diabetes mellitus, endometrial cancer, and cardiovascular disease are long-term health hazards [6,7]. The underlying mechanisms of PCOS are still poorly understood, which makes it difficult for gynecologists and endocrinologists to diagnose and treat patients [8]. In addition, PCOS manifests as a variety of phenotypes, thus necessitating individualized treatment [5,9]. The causative roles of many implicated factors have been analyzed to explore the underlying mechanisms of PCOS. One such factor is Vitamin D, which has been linked to insulin or glucose metabolism and has been shown in PCOS patients to have an inverse relationship with metabolic abnormalities. However, it is unclear whether or not women with and without PCOS have different levels of serum Vitamin D [10]. In the current study, to decide whether to implement screening programs or supplement Vitamin D and calcium for PCOS patients, the correlation between their levels in these subjects in the local community was studied. In addition, in various PCOS phenotypes, the correlation between body mass index (BMI), hyperandrogenism, and metabolic syndrome was assessed. Aims and objectives The aims are as follows: 1. To study levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D and calcium in women with PCOS 2. To study the correlation between serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D concentration and calcium in normal women and women with PCOS 3. To study prevalence of metabolic syndrome in various phenotypes of PCOS. METHODS This study was a prospective and observational study. Source of data Patients enrolled in the study were recruited from the out-patient department and infertility clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rajindra hospital, Government Medical College, Patiala from a period from January 2019 to June 2020. Inclusion criteria The following criteria were included in the study: 1. Women aged 18–45 years 2. Women who had been diagnosed with PCOS based on Rotterdam criteria [11]. These criteria included 2 of 3: a. Different clinical manifestations of oligo and/or anovulation b. Clinical and/or biochemical evidence of hyperandrogenism including hirsutism, acne, and elevated testosterone © 2022 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2022v15i12.46060. 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