• Ta-Wei Chu, Jing-Yun Jhao, Ta-Jen Lin, Tzu-Wei Lin, Chia-Lin Wang, Huan-Shuo Chang, Li-Chun Liu, and Cheng-Chang Chang.
• Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
• J Chin Med Assoc. 2021 Nov 1; 84 (11): 1054-1059.

BackgroundMost reproductive system studies suggest the protective effects of vitamin D, but vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are growing global health issues. The present study investigates the association between vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency and gynecologic diseases to identify illness risks at different serum vitamin D levels in Taiwan.MethodsA total of 7699 female adults aged ≥20 years with results for both serum vitamin D and gynecologic-associated diseases were drawn from the Taiwan MJ cohort. We analyzed the correlation between serum vitamin D levels and results from reproductive system evaluations, including history of dysmenorrhea, results of Pap smear, high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the cervix, mammography, and ultrasound of breast and pelvis.ResultsOver 80% of participants showed vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency. Participants with abnormal Pap smear results, high-risk HPV infection, and history of dysmenorrhea showed significantly lower levels of serum vitamin D (p < 0.001-0.05). Serum vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with positive high-risk HPV infection of the cervix (p < 0.05) and dysmenorrhea (p < 0.001). After controlling for age as a confounding variable for each gynecologic disease, level of serum vitamin D was significantly associated with abnormal breast ultrasound (odds ratio = 0.724) and uterus ultrasound (odds ratio = 0.673 - 0.8), and dysmenorrhea (odds ratio = 0.829).ConclusionAssociations were found between vitamin D deficiency and endometriosis, uterine myoma, dysmenorrhea, abnormal Pap smear results, and high-risk HPV infection of the cervix. Therefore, vitamin D supplements may present a cost-effective benefit for the prevention and treatment of gynecologic diseases, and thus reduction of healthcare expenditures.Copyright © 2021, the Chinese Medical Association.

11 keywords...

hide…