This is one of a series of news items from abstracts of studies presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine as complied by Dr. David Meldrum, Scientific Director of Reproductive Partners. We appreciate the enormous amount of work it takes to compile and comment on these abstracts.
Recent interest in Vitamin D as an important factor in successful reproduction was highlighted by two oral presentations at ASRM 2012.
In one, Vitamin D levels were significantly correlated with the chance of birth when retrospectively analyzed within a prior randomized study of metformin for PCOS. Each 10 ng/ml rise increased live birth by 20%. Normal levels are considered to be above 30 ng/ml. Vitamin D supplementation may be particularly critical for PCOS patients.
In the second, Vitamin D levels in PCOS women were not different from controls. However, it is still possible that Vitamin D deficiency may interact with the suppressed implantation factors shown in PCOS women.
The take-home message here is that if you are planning to conceive, have your doctor check your Vitamin D levels and if below the normal range, start supplementation.