Vitamin D supplementation has no effect on insulin resistance assessment in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and vitamin D deficiency

Insulin resistance is one of the most common features of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Some studies suggest that vitamin D deficiency may have a role in insulin resistance; thus, the aim of the current study was to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on insulin resistance in women with PCOS and a vitamin D deficiency. We hypothesized that vitamin D supplementation would lower the glucose level and insulin resistance in women with PCOS and a vitamin D deficiency. The current study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial with 50 women with PCOS and a vitamin D deficiency, 20 to 40 years old, assigned to receive 3 oral treatments consisting of 50,000 IU of vitamin D₃ or a placebo (1 every 20 days) for 2 months (vitamin D, n = 24; placebo, n = 26). The fasting blood glucose, insulin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and parathyroid hormone levels, as well as the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index were measured at baseline and after treatment. In the vitamin D group, the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased (6.9 ± 2.8 to 23.4 ± 6.1 ng/mL, P < .0001), and the parathyroid hormone level decreased (70.02 ± 43.04 to 50.33 ± 21.99 μ IU/mL, P = .02). There were no significant changes in the placebo group. There was a significant increase in insulin secretion in the vitamin D group (P = .01), but this was not significant compared with the placebo group. The fasting serum insulin and glucose levels and the insulin sensitivity and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance did not change significantly by the end of the study. We were not able to demonstrate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance in women with PCOS and vitamin D deficiency.