6 Benefits of Vitamin D for PCOS
The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in women with PCOS is about 67-85%. Vitamin D deficiency may play a significant role in many symptoms of PCOS including metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, menstrual irregularities, infertility, hyperandrogenism, obesity and increase risk of cardiovascular diseases. Vitamin D can be found in salmon, cod liver oil, tuna, egg yolk, and mushrooms, though the best source that is most bioavailable is from sun exposure.
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Here are 6 reasons why taking vitamin D for PCOS is beneficial.
1) Vitamin D Improves Blood Sugar Control
One of the benefits of vitamin D for PCOS is that it improves blood sugar control, meaning that insulin sensitivity improves. Low vitamin D status is significantly associated with higher insulin resistance in women with PCOS independent of major confounders as BMI and ethnicity. Vitamin D is believed to help improve the body's sensitivity to insulin – the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels, therefore, reducing the risk of insulin resistance, which is often a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
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2) Vitamin D Improves Metabolic Markers.
Women with PCOS often struggle with insulin resistance, which may lead to type 2 diabetes. Vitamin D and calcium co-supplementation help increase insulin sensitivity, which leads to better glucose control. It also helps to lower triglyceride levels and VLDL-cholesterol, which both contribute to the onset of dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease. This is a reason why vitamin D for PCOS is benefical.
3) Vitamin D Promotes Menstrual Regularity
Menstrual regularity is another reason for taking vitamin D for PCOS. Irregular periods often occur in women with PCOS due to a hormone imbalance of excess androgens such as testosterone. Women may experience a menstrual cycle every few months or maybe their cycle is more than 35 total days. Luckily, vitamin D is the only vitamin that acts as a hormone and can help balance hormones associated with the menstrual cycle, thus, leading to the regularity of a woman’s cycle.
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4) Vitamin D Improves Mood
Vitamin D for PCOS is also advantageous because it will help to improve mood. Depression and anxiety are common in polycystic ovary syndrome and a deficiency in Vitamin D may be one of the main culprits for these symptoms. Vitamin D activates genes that regulate the immune system and release neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which are the “feel good” chemicals of the brain and help improve overall mood.
5) Vitamin D Lowers Inflammation
Another reason that vitamin D for PCOS is beneficial is because it helps lower inflammation. Chronic inflammation has emerged as a key contributor to the development of PCOS. Chronic inflammation may lead to diseases including certain types of cancers, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Vitamin D supplementation was found to significantly reduce serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a marker in the body that indicates inflammation and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a biomarker of oxidation, in diabetic patients. In addition, vitamin D supplementation was found to increase markers of nitric oxide (NO) release, total serum antioxidant capacity, and total glutathione (GSH) levels, all of which act as antioxidants in the body. Antioxidants are chemicals that aid in clearing inflammation.
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6) Vitamin D Supports Ovulation
Many women with PCOS suffer from infertility due to a lack of ovulation. Vitamin D works at a cellular level by altering AMH signaling, increasing FSH sensitivity, and increasing progesterone production, all of which support ovulation in the body. It also helps to improve ovarian follicle, therefore, increasing fertility. This is why support ovulation is a benefit of taking vitamin D for PCOS.
Conclusion
Vitamin D may help alleviate symptoms associated with PCOS in women who are deficient in the vitamin. If you are not sure whether or not you are deficient in vitamin D, you can order a lipid panel to test your levels. The best way to obtain vitamin D in your diet is to eat foods such as salmon, fortified cereal, egg yolks, however, you may also take a vitamin D supplement for an adequate source. Always make sure to talk to your doctor before you begin to take a supplement, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking any medications that may cause undesirable interactions with the supplement.
