Assessment of the relationship between serum vitamin (A, B<SUB>12</SUB>, C, D, folate) and zinc levels and polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

<b>Introduction</b> There is increasing evidence that vitamin D affects insulin and glucose metabolism, and a low vitamin D status is suspected to be a risk factor for impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and so polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but there is no evidence to suggest that there is a relationship between vitamin A, vitamin B<SUB>12</SUB>, vitamin C, folate, zinc (Zn) and PCOS in the literature. We aimed to investigate the levels of vitamins A, B<SUB>12</SUB>, C and D and zinc and the association between vitamins A, B<SUB>12</SUB>, C and D, folate and zinc level and hormonal-biochemical parameters in PCOS.<br /> <b>Material and methods: </b> We recruited 65 women with PCOS and 67 healthy individuals. Correlations between clinical and metabolic parameters and vitamins A, B<SUB>12</SUB>, C and D and zinc status were analyzed separately in patients and controls.<br /> <b>Results</b>: Women with PCOS showed a decreased serum level of vitamin A compared with the control group (p < 0.05), but they showed no differences in the levels of vitamin D, vitamin B<SUB>12</SUB>, vitamin C, folate or Zn (p > 0.05).<br /> <b>Conclusions</b>: Our study found no differences in the absolute levels of serum vitamins B<SUB>12</SUB>, C, D, folate or Zn between PCOS patients and matched controls, but the vitamin A level was lower in PCOS patients. Prevalence of vitamins A, B<SUB>12</SUB>, C and D and Zn insufficiency was equally common among both patients and controls.