Poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in the women of reproductive age. The classical triad of criteria for PCOS are chronic anovulation, hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovaries. Insulin resistance and metabolic disturbances are its biochemical features. In addition to the classical role of vitamin D in the bone and calcium metabolism, it is now implicated in insulin sensitivity, diabetes mellitus type2 and gonadal functions. Vitamin D may be a missing link between insulin resistance and PCOS.

Vitamin D levels are low in PCOS women and supplementation of vitamin D may be of use in the treatment of PCOS. But this assumption is not proved consistently in clinical studies. A study was undertaken in a rural based medical college in south India to establish a relation between PCOS and vitamin D

120 women with PCOS and 60 age matched non PCOS women were evaluated for BMI and vitamin D level. It was found that 60.8% of women in PCOS group and 61.7% in control group are vitamin D deficient. Only 11.7% in PCOS group and13.3% in control group has vitamin D>30 ng/ml. The mean vitamin D values in 120 PCOS women, 68 PCOS non obese women, 52 PCOS obese women are 18.94, 19.2, 18.6 ng/ml respectively. The mean vitamin D levels in 60 non PCOS women, 39 non PCOS non obese women, 21 non PCOS obese women are18.4, 19.0, 17.3 ng/ml respectively. Differences in these values are not statistically significant. Hence it is concluded that, vitamin deficiency is in the community at large, not in any way specifically important in PCOS and BMI

Keywords: PCOS; Vitamin D; BMI.

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Dr Alla Satyanarayana Reddy

Professor in OBG, Vinayaka Mission`s Medical College & Hospital, Karaikal, Pondicherry, India. 609609