In this study researchers examined a small group of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and found that they were low in vitamin D levels.
Normalization of vitamin D levels normalized menstrual cycles in over half the women in two months. Two patients became pregnant and four others maintained normal menstrual cycles.
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Below is the abstract from the study...I have BOLDED the interesting part:
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Vitamin D and calcium dysregulation in the polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Thys-Jacobs S, Donovan D, Papadopoulos A, Sarrel P, Bilezikian JP.
Department of Medicine, St. Lukes-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10019, USA.
Over the past 30 years, numerous studies in invertebrates and vertebrates have established a role of calcium in oocyte maturation as well as in the resumption and progression of follicular development. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCO) is characterized by hyperandrogenic chronic anovulation, theca cell hyperplasia, and arrested follicular development. The aim of this observational study was to determine whether vitamin D and calcium dysregulation contribute to the development of follicular arrest in women with PCO, resulting in reproductive and menstrual dysfunction. Thirteen premenopausal women (mean age 31 +/- 7.9 years) with documented chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenism were evaluated. Four women were amenorrheic and nine had a history oligomenorrhea, two of whom had dysfunctional bleeding. Nine had abnormal pelvic sonograms with multiple ovarian follicular cysts. All were hirsute, two had alopecia, and five had acanthosis nigricans. The mean 25 hydrovitamin D was 11.2 +/- 6.9 ng/ml [normal (nl): 9-52], and the mean 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D was 45.8 +/- 18 pg/ml. with one woman with a 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D <5 pg/ml (nl: 15-60). The mean intact parathyroid hormone level was 47 +/- 19 pg/ml (nl: 10-65), with five women with abnormally elevated parathyroid hormone levels. All were normocalcemic (9.3 +/- 0.4 mg/dl). Vitamin D repletion with calcium therapy resulted in normalized menstrual cycles within 2 months for seven women, with two experiencing resolution of their dysfunctional bleeding. Two became pregnant, and the other four patients maintained normal menstrual cycles. These data suggest that abnormalities in calcium homeostasis may be responsible, in part, for the arrested follicular development in women with PCO and may contribute to the pathogenesis of PCO.
PMID: 10433180 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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USDA databases compiled in the 1980s list the following foods as rich in vitamin D. The amounts given are for 100 grams or about 3 1/2 ounces. These figures demonstrate the difficulty in obtaining 4,000 IU vitamin D per day from ordinary foods in the American diet. Three servings of herring, oysters, catfish, mackerel or sardines plus generous amounts of butter, egg yolk, lard or bacon fat and 2 teaspoons cod liver oil (500 iu per teaspoon) yield about 4,000 IU vitamin D—a very rich diet indeed!
I looked at the drug checker and it said that "extra" amounts of Vitamin D are in pregnancy category "C", meaning that effects on an unborn baby are unknown, but probably best to steer clear. So, if you are ttc, check with your doctor before taking Vitamin D supplements (i.e. more than what's in your multivitamin)
good advice! Keep in mind, that that study was on women who had 'low' levels of vitamin D...so the moral of the story to 'perhaps' have your vitamin D levels checked, and then explore if bringing those levels to 'normal' will help with ovulation.
kat
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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Where did you get that Avatar? As soon as I saw that I had flashbacks of high school. We used to have to do the sun salutation every day in theater class. That is such a cute
Avatar.
msvon
__________________ ME: msvon (32)
BFP 07/12/05; MC 08/12/05 due to Blighed Ovum
BFP 10/02/06 EDD 06/10/07
DD 06/06/07
PCOS & Vitamin D to regulate cycles 
