Assessment of the possible role of vitamin D defificiency with the relevant mechanisms in gynecological disorders

Abstract

A growing body of research points out that the low levels of vitamin D and/or polymorphisms at vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling pathways might play a role in the pathogenesis or ethiology of various gynecologic/obstetric/oncologic disorders including primary dismenorrhea (PD), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, leiomyoma (UM), premature ovarian failure (POF), subfertility and ovarian cancer. Moreover, it has been suggested that vitamin D supplementation might improve the clinical/laboratory findings and control the symptoms of diseases such as PCOS, UM or endometriosis, and might also provide a more favorable prognosis in ovarian cancer. Besides this, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic and anti-proliferative features of vitamin D via autocrine/paracrine signalings have been associated with underlying mechanisms of all these diseases. Thus, in this review, the unfavorable effects of vitamin D deficiency/ insufficiency in female reproductive system disorders are discussed comprehensively along with relevant mechanisms, and the possible benefits of vitamin D supplementation are also presented in detail.