Evaluation of the relationship between vitamin D levels with oocyte quality in breast cancer women: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency could play an important role in the development of non-skeletal diseases, including cancer. Vitamin D also affects the function of the reproductive system. In the present study, the relationship between 25(OH)D levels with oocyte quality in Breast Cancer (BC) women and control group have been investigated. After initial evaluations, ovarian stimulation began with the GnRH antagonist protocol in the BC group (N = 16) and control group (N = 16). The serum and follicular fluid (FF) 25(OH)D levels were measured at the time of oocyte retrieval and their relationship to oocyte quality was examined. The mean levels of serum and FF 25(OH)D in BC women were significantly lower than in the control group (22.26 ± 7.98 vs. 29.61 ± 9.12, P = 0.02, 21.65 ± 7.59 vs. 28.00 ± 9.05, P = 0.04, respectively). There was a significant correlation between the levels of 25(OH)D in FF and serum in BC women (r = 0.873, P < 0.001). But there was no correlation between the serum or FF 25(OH)D levels with the parameters related to oocytes (P > 0.05). In the BC women, the number of dysmorph and highly dysmorph oocytes was higher than in the control group (P < 0.001). Women with BC referring to infertility centers for fertility preservation are more likely to be deficient in serum 25(OH)D level; this subsequently affects the FF 25(OH)D level. However, serum and FF 25(OH)D levels may not be suitable indicators for examining maturity and quality of oocytes in terms of morphology in BC women, and the poor morphological quality of oocytes in BC women may be due to other factors.