I've been taking great care of myself for a few years--exercising almost every day, and eating a healthier diet than anyone I know. I am of low-normal weight. Regardless, I still have symptoms of PCOS. I spent a lot of time blaming myself, feeling like I wasn't working hard enough to be healthy, but I watch how poorly other people treat their bodies and I know it isn't true. PCOS is not my fault.
More and more research is linking Vitamin D deficiency with PCOS and insulin resistance. Also, you may have read that the current RDA for Vitamin D is considered much too low by many experts. In the winter I take 4000 IU of Vitamin D in addition to calcium and magnesium supplements, which drastically helps my skin, depression, and cramps. I also do my best to get daily sun exposure in the summer. However, I feel that in my case and possibly the cases of other women, boron may be a missing link.
Boron is necessary for the conversion of vitamin D to its active form. The active form of vitamin D increases the expression of aromatase, which converts androgens to estrogen. Studies have also directly shown that boron increases estrogen production. I believe that the PCOS women with high androgens and low levels of estradiol should explore this idea further. I believe that an aromatase deficiency would explain my PCOS symptoms in addition to my small breasts and bone/joint pains (beginnings of osteoporosis?).
I've had hair mineral analysis tests performed more than once which showed very low boron. Coincidence? I can't offer an explanation as to why the boron is low. Malabsorption, use of anti-perspirants which contain the boron antagonist aluminum, hidden toxic levels of another boron antagonist (boron is needed for proper copper metabolism, perhaps elevated copper from pipes and former dental amalgam could contribute to boron depletion), or insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption in the past could all be reasons.
I started supplementing with higher-than-typical doses of boron yesterday and already notice that my joints are less uncomfortable and crunchy-sounding. I know I'm using myself as a guinea pig, but doctors and research are moving much too slowly for me.
I could spend all day trying to develop a more articulate argument for Vitamin D and its synergists (boron), but I don't have time right now, so I'll link articles that will help you draw the connections:
About Vitamin D and aromatase expression/estrogen synthesis:
http://endo.endojournals.org/cgi/con.../4/1317?ck=nck
About aromatization defects and PCOS:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000901/1079.html
About Vitamin D and sebum excretion:
http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v1.../5601233a.html
About Vitamin D and androgenic alopecia:
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/11/6/549
About boron, Vitamin D, and insulin:
http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/133/11/3577
I think nearly all chronic diseases can be resolved with proper nutritional balance, which means something different for everyone. PCOS sufferers, are you willing to test your vitamin D level as well as have a hair test performed to check your boron level? How cool would it be if other PCOS sufferers found a similar hair analysis pattern? With collective detective work, we might find the key to increasing aromatase expression in PCOS, thereby eliminating hyperandrogenism.
Vitamin D and PCOS 
