Vitamin D deficiency is predictive of depressive symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Abstract

To assess a relationship between vitamin D status and depressive symptoms in women with PCOS. Retrospective study. In patients seeking specialist reproductive endocrinology care for symptoms relating to PCOS, serum 25OHD levels were assessed. A validated 9 item Patient health Questionnaire (PHQ) allowed assessment of depressive symptoms (score 0-4, Not depressed; 5-9 Mild; 10-14 Moderate; 15-19 Moderately severe and 20-27 as Severe depressive symptoms). Relationship between serum 25OHD (continuous as well as dichotomized at <20ng/ml vs. higher) & depression (PHQ score>4) and with moderate-severe depression (PHQ score>10) were assessed using multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses after adjusting for age, overweight body habitus, family history of depression and symptoms of acne, hirsutism and oligomenorrhea. Serum 25OHD and PHQ scores were available for 51 patients meeting criteria for PCOS. 20/51 (39%) met PHQ criteria for depression (PHQ>4) with 9/51 (17%) meeting criteria for moderate to severe depression (PHQ> = 10). An inverse correlation was observed between serum 25OHD and PHQ scores (r -0.24, P=0.08). Patients with serum 25OHD<20ng/ml were almost 4 times more likely to meet criteria for depression (PHQ>4, OR 3.47, 95% CI 0.78-16.19, P=0.056). On adjusted analyses, serum 25OHD<20 was an independent predictor of PHQ score (AR2 0.19, β 4.24); women with 25OHD<20ng/ml were 6 times more likely to score >4 (OR 6.51, 95% CI 1.29- 32.91, P=0.023) and 18 times more likely to score >10 (OR 18.28 1.03-325.19, P=0.048). Vitamin D deficiency is identified as a risk factor for depressive symptoms in women with PCOS.