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Dr Bhanu K Bhakhri

"The Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (JCDR) has been in operation since almost a decade. It has contributed a huge number of peer reviewed articles, across a spectrum of medical disciplines, to the medical literature.
Its wide based indexing and open access publications attracts many authors as well as readers
For authors, the manuscripts can be uploaded online through an easily navigable portal, on other hand, reviewers appreciate the systematic handling of all manuscripts. The way JCDR has emerged as an effective medium for publishing wide array of observations in Indian context, I wish the editorial team success in their endeavour"



Dr Bhanu K Bhakhri
Faculty, Pediatric Medicine
Super Speciality Paediatric Hospital and Post Graduate Teaching Institute, Noida
On Sep 2018




Dr Mohan Z Mani

"Thank you very much for having published my article in record time.I would like to compliment you and your entire staff for your promptness, courtesy, and willingness to be customer friendly, which is quite unusual.I was given your reference by a colleague in pathology,and was able to directly phone your editorial office for clarifications.I would particularly like to thank the publication managers and the Assistant Editor who were following up my article. I would also like to thank you for adjusting the money I paid initially into payment for my modified article,and refunding the balance.
I wish all success to your journal and look forward to sending you any suitable similar article in future"



Dr Mohan Z Mani,
Professor & Head,
Department of Dematolgy,
Believers Church Medical College,
Thiruvalla, Kerala
On Sep 2018




Prof. Somashekhar Nimbalkar

"Over the last few years, we have published our research regularly in Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. Having published in more than 20 high impact journals over the last five years including several high impact ones and reviewing articles for even more journals across my fields of interest, we value our published work in JCDR for their high standards in publishing scientific articles. The ease of submission, the rapid reviews in under a month, the high quality of their reviewers and keen attention to the final process of proofs and publication, ensure that there are no mistakes in the final article. We have been asked clarifications on several occasions and have been happy to provide them and it exemplifies the commitment to quality of the team at JCDR."



Prof. Somashekhar Nimbalkar
Head, Department of Pediatrics, Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad
Chairman, Research Group, Charutar Arogya Mandal, Karamsad
National Joint Coordinator - Advanced IAP NNF NRP Program
Ex-Member, Governing Body, National Neonatology Forum, New Delhi
Ex-President - National Neonatology Forum Gujarat State Chapter
Department of Pediatrics, Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat.
On Sep 2018




Dr. Kalyani R

"Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research is at present a well-known Indian originated scientific journal which started with a humble beginning. I have been associated with this journal since many years. I appreciate the Editor, Dr. Hemant Jain, for his constant effort in bringing up this journal to the present status right from the scratch. The journal is multidisciplinary. It encourages in publishing the scientific articles from postgraduates and also the beginners who start their career. At the same time the journal also caters for the high quality articles from specialty and super-specialty researchers. Hence it provides a platform for the scientist and researchers to publish. The other aspect of it is, the readers get the information regarding the most recent developments in science which can be used for teaching, research, treating patients and to some extent take preventive measures against certain diseases. The journal is contributing immensely to the society at national and international level."



Dr Kalyani R
Professor and Head
Department of Pathology
Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College
Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research , Kolar, Karnataka
On Sep 2018




Dr. Saumya Navit

"As a peer-reviewed journal, the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research provides an opportunity to researchers, scientists and budding professionals to explore the developments in the field of medicine and dentistry and their varied specialities, thus extending our view on biological diversities of living species in relation to medicine.
‘Knowledge is treasure of a wise man.’ The free access of this journal provides an immense scope of learning for the both the old and the young in field of medicine and dentistry as well. The multidisciplinary nature of the journal makes it a better platform to absorb all that is being researched and developed. The publication process is systematic and professional. Online submission, publication and peer reviewing makes it a user-friendly journal.
As an experienced dentist and an academician, I proudly recommend this journal to the dental fraternity as a good quality open access platform for rapid communication of their cutting-edge research progress and discovery.
I wish JCDR a great success and I hope that journal will soar higher with the passing time."



Dr Saumya Navit
Professor and Head
Department of Pediatric Dentistry
Saraswati Dental College
Lucknow
On Sep 2018




Dr. Arunava Biswas

"My sincere attachment with JCDR as an author as well as reviewer is a learning experience . Their systematic approach in publication of article in various categories is really praiseworthy.
Their prompt and timely response to review's query and the manner in which they have set the reviewing process helps in extracting the best possible scientific writings for publication.
It's a honour and pride to be a part of the JCDR team. My very best wishes to JCDR and hope it will sparkle up above the sky as a high indexed journal in near future."



Dr. Arunava Biswas
MD, DM (Clinical Pharmacology)
Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacology
Calcutta National Medical College & Hospital , Kolkata




Dr. C.S. Ramesh Babu
" Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (JCDR) is a multi-specialty medical and dental journal publishing high quality research articles in almost all branches of medicine. The quality of printing of figures and tables is excellent and comparable to any International journal. An added advantage is nominal publication charges and monthly issue of the journal and more chances of an article being accepted for publication. Moreover being a multi-specialty journal an article concerning a particular specialty has a wider reach of readers of other related specialties also. As an author and reviewer for several years I find this Journal most suitable and highly recommend this Journal."
Best regards,
C.S. Ramesh Babu,
Associate Professor of Anatomy,
Muzaffarnagar Medical College,
Muzaffarnagar.
On Aug 2018




Dr. Arundhathi. S
"Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (JCDR) is a reputed peer reviewed journal and is constantly involved in publishing high quality research articles related to medicine. Its been a great pleasure to be associated with this esteemed journal as a reviewer and as an author for a couple of years. The editorial board consists of many dedicated and reputed experts as its members and they are doing an appreciable work in guiding budding researchers. JCDR is doing a commendable job in scientific research by promoting excellent quality research & review articles and case reports & series. The reviewers provide appropriate suggestions that improve the quality of articles. I strongly recommend my fraternity to encourage JCDR by contributing their valuable research work in this widely accepted, user friendly journal. I hope my collaboration with JCDR will continue for a long time".



Dr. Arundhathi. S
MBBS, MD (Pathology),
Sanjay Gandhi institute of trauma and orthopedics,
Bengaluru.
On Aug 2018




Dr. Mamta Gupta,
"It gives me great pleasure to be associated with JCDR, since last 2-3 years. Since then I have authored, co-authored and reviewed about 25 articles in JCDR. I thank JCDR for giving me an opportunity to improve my own skills as an author and a reviewer.
It 's a multispecialty journal, publishing high quality articles. It gives a platform to the authors to publish their research work which can be available for everyone across the globe to read. The best thing about JCDR is that the full articles of all medical specialties are available as pdf/html for reading free of cost or without institutional subscription, which is not there for other journals. For those who have problem in writing manuscript or do statistical work, JCDR comes for their rescue.
The journal has a monthly publication and the articles are published quite fast. In time compared to other journals. The on-line first publication is also a great advantage and facility to review one's own articles before going to print. The response to any query and permission if required, is quite fast; this is quite commendable. I have a very good experience about seeking quick permission for quoting a photograph (Fig.) from a JCDR article for my chapter authored in an E book. I never thought it would be so easy. No hassles.
Reviewing articles is no less a pain staking process and requires in depth perception, knowledge about the topic for review. It requires time and concentration, yet I enjoy doing it. The JCDR website especially for the reviewers is quite user friendly. My suggestions for improving the journal is, more strict review process, so that only high quality articles are published. I find a a good number of articles in Obst. Gynae, hence, a new journal for this specialty titled JCDR-OG can be started. May be a bimonthly or quarterly publication to begin with. Only selected articles should find a place in it.
An yearly reward for the best article authored can also incentivize the authors. Though the process of finding the best article will be not be very easy. I do not know how reviewing process can be improved. If an article is being reviewed by two reviewers, then opinion of one can be communicated to the other or the final opinion of the editor can be communicated to the reviewer if requested for. This will help one’s reviewing skills.
My best wishes to Dr. Hemant Jain and all the editorial staff of JCDR for their untiring efforts to bring out this journal. I strongly recommend medical fraternity to publish their valuable research work in this esteemed journal, JCDR".



Dr. Mamta Gupta
Consultant
(Ex HOD Obs &Gynae, Hindu Rao Hospital and associated NDMC Medical College, Delhi)
Aug 2018




Dr. Rajendra Kumar Ghritlaharey

"I wish to thank Dr. Hemant Jain, Editor-in-Chief Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (JCDR), for asking me to write up few words.
Writing is the representation of language in a textual medium i e; into the words and sentences on paper. Quality medical manuscript writing in particular, demands not only a high-quality research, but also requires accurate and concise communication of findings and conclusions, with adherence to particular journal guidelines. In medical field whether working in teaching, private, or in corporate institution, everyone wants to excel in his / her own field and get recognised by making manuscripts publication.


Authors are the souls of any journal, and deserve much respect. To publish a journal manuscripts are needed from authors. Authors have a great responsibility for producing facts of their work in terms of number and results truthfully and an individual honesty is expected from authors in this regards. Both ways its true "No authors-No manuscripts-No journals" and "No journals–No manuscripts–No authors". Reviewing a manuscript is also a very responsible and important task of any peer-reviewed journal and to be taken seriously. It needs knowledge on the subject, sincerity, honesty and determination. Although the process of reviewing a manuscript is a time consuming task butit is expected to give one's best remarks within the time frame of the journal.
Salient features of the JCDR: It is a biomedical, multidisciplinary (including all medical and dental specialities), e-journal, with wide scope and extensive author support. At the same time, a free text of manuscript is available in HTML and PDF format. There is fast growing authorship and readership with JCDR as this can be judged by the number of articles published in it i e; in Feb 2007 of its first issue, it contained 5 articles only, and now in its recent volume published in April 2011, it contained 67 manuscripts. This e-journal is fulfilling the commitments and objectives sincerely, (as stated by Editor-in-chief in his preface to first edition) i e; to encourage physicians through the internet, especially from the developing countries who witness a spectrum of disease and acquire a wealth of knowledge to publish their experiences to benefit the medical community in patients care. I also feel that many of us have work of substance, newer ideas, adequate clinical materials but poor in medical writing and hesitation to submit the work and need help. JCDR provides authors help in this regards.
Timely publication of journal: Publication of manuscripts and bringing out the issue in time is one of the positive aspects of JCDR and is possible with strong support team in terms of peer reviewers, proof reading, language check, computer operators, etc. This is one of the great reasons for authors to submit their work with JCDR. Another best part of JCDR is "Online first Publications" facilities available for the authors. This facility not only provides the prompt publications of the manuscripts but at the same time also early availability of the manuscripts for the readers.
Indexation and online availability: Indexation transforms the journal in some sense from its local ownership to the worldwide professional community and to the public.JCDR is indexed with Embase & EMbiology, Google Scholar, Index Copernicus, Chemical Abstracts Service, Journal seek Database, Indian Science Abstracts, to name few of them. Manuscriptspublished in JCDR are available on major search engines ie; google, yahoo, msn.
In the era of fast growing newer technologies, and in computer and internet friendly environment the manuscripts preparation, submission, review, revision, etc and all can be done and checked with a click from all corer of the world, at any time. Of course there is always a scope for improvement in every field and none is perfect. To progress, one needs to identify the areas of one's weakness and to strengthen them.
It is well said that "happy beginning is half done" and it fits perfectly with JCDR. It has grown considerably and I feel it has already grown up from its infancy to adolescence, achieving the status of standard online e-journal form Indian continent since its inception in Feb 2007. This had been made possible due to the efforts and the hard work put in it. The way the JCDR is improving with every new volume, with good quality original manuscripts, makes it a quality journal for readers. I must thank and congratulate Dr Hemant Jain, Editor-in-Chief JCDR and his team for their sincere efforts, dedication, and determination for making JCDR a fast growing journal.
Every one of us: authors, reviewers, editors, and publisher are responsible for enhancing the stature of the journal. I wish for a great success for JCDR."



Thanking you
With sincere regards
Dr. Rajendra Kumar Ghritlaharey, M.S., M. Ch., FAIS
Associate Professor,
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Gandhi Medical College & Associated
Kamla Nehru & Hamidia Hospitals Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462 001 (India)
E-mail: drrajendrak1@rediffmail.com
On May 11,2011




Dr. Shankar P.R.

"On looking back through my Gmail archives after being requested by the journal to write a short editorial about my experiences of publishing with the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (JCDR), I came across an e-mail from Dr. Hemant Jain, Editor, in March 2007, which introduced the new electronic journal. The main features of the journal which were outlined in the e-mail were extensive author support, cash rewards, the peer review process, and other salient features of the journal.
Over a span of over four years, we (I and my colleagues) have published around 25 articles in the journal. In this editorial, I plan to briefly discuss my experiences of publishing with JCDR and the strengths of the journal and to finally address the areas for improvement.
My experiences of publishing with JCDR: Overall, my experiences of publishing withJCDR have been positive. The best point about the journal is that it responds to queries from the author. This may seem to be simple and not too much to ask for, but unfortunately, many journals in the subcontinent and from many developing countries do not respond or they respond with a long delay to the queries from the authors 1. The reasons could be many, including lack of optimal secretarial and other support. Another problem with many journals is the slowness of the review process. Editorial processing and peer review can take anywhere between a year to two years with some journals. Also, some journals do not keep the contributors informed about the progress of the review process. Due to the long review process, the articles can lose their relevance and topicality. A major benefit with JCDR is the timeliness and promptness of its response. In Dr Jain's e-mail which was sent to me in 2007, before the introduction of the Pre-publishing system, he had stated that he had received my submission and that he would get back to me within seven days and he did!
Most of the manuscripts are published within 3 to 4 months of their submission if they are found to be suitable after the review process. JCDR is published bimonthly and the accepted articles were usually published in the next issue. Recently, due to the increased volume of the submissions, the review process has become slower and it ?? Section can take from 4 to 6 months for the articles to be reviewed. The journal has an extensive author support system and it has recently introduced a paid expedited review process. The journal also mentions the average time for processing the manuscript under different submission systems - regular submission and expedited review.
Strengths of the journal: The journal has an online first facility in which the accepted manuscripts may be published on the website before being included in a regular issue of the journal. This cuts down the time between their acceptance and the publication. The journal is indexed in many databases, though not in PubMed. The editorial board should now take steps to index the journal in PubMed. The journal has a system of notifying readers through e-mail when a new issue is released. Also, the articles are available in both the HTML and the PDF formats. I especially like the new and colorful page format of the journal. Also, the access statistics of the articles are available. The prepublication and the manuscript tracking system are also helpful for the authors.
Areas for improvement: In certain cases, I felt that the peer review process of the manuscripts was not up to international standards and that it should be strengthened. Also, the number of manuscripts in an issue is high and it may be difficult for readers to go through all of them. The journal can consider tightening of the peer review process and increasing the quality standards for the acceptance of the manuscripts. I faced occasional problems with the online manuscript submission (Pre-publishing) system, which have to be addressed.
Overall, the publishing process with JCDR has been smooth, quick and relatively hassle free and I can recommend other authors to consider the journal as an outlet for their work."



Dr. P. Ravi Shankar
KIST Medical College, P.O. Box 14142, Kathmandu, Nepal.
E-mail: ravi.dr.shankar@gmail.com
On April 2011

Important Notice

Original article / research
Year : 2025 | Month : April | Volume : 19 | Issue : 4 | Page : BE01 - BE06 Full Version

Effect of Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation on Menstrual Abnormalities, Follicular Response and Metabolic Status in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Published: April 1, 2025 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2025/78879.20733

Sangeetha V Joice, N Ananthi, G Lekshminath, Rebecca Abraham

1. PhD Scholar, SIMATS, Thandalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India; Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Dr. Moopen’s Medical College, Wayanad, Kerala, India. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3668-4843. 2. Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Medical College, SIMATS, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. 3. Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Malabar Medical College and Research Centre, Calicut, Kerala, India. 4. Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Malabar Medical College and Research Centre, Calicut, Kerala, India.

Correspondence Address :
Dr. Sangeetha V Joice,
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Dr. Moopen’s Medical College, Meppadi, Wayanad-673577, Kerala, India.
E-mail: joicesangeeta@gmail.com

Abstract

Introduction: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent hormonal disorder affecting women. It presents with irregular periods, high levels of male hormones and multiple cysts on the ovaries. Metabolic disruptions related to PCOS consist of insulin resistance, obesity and dyslipidaemia. Recent studies show that supplementing with vitamin D and calcium could benefit metabolic health, menstrual cycle regularity and follicular growth in women with PCOS.

Aim: To analyse the effectiveness of Vitamin D and Calcium on metabolic parameters, menstrual cycles and follicular response in patients with PCOS.

Materials and Methods: The studies were reviewed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A thorough literature search was conducted in databases including PubMed, Pub Med Central, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Evidence-based Medicine Reviews (EBMR), and Google Scholar. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist for systematic reviews and research syntheses and the data were analysed using a narrative approach.

Results: The systematic review of 12 experimental studies showed mixed results on the effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation in women with PCOS. Some studies reported improved insulin sensitivity, lipid profiles and menstrual cycle regularity, while others found inconsistent outcomes in follicular development and ovarian morphology, with some showing improvement and others finding no significant changes compared to controls.

Conclusion: The present systematic review suggests that vitamin D and calcium supplementation can potentially improve metabolic status in women with PCOS, but the effects on menstrual cycle abnormalities and follicular response are inconsistent. The variability in study outcomes highlights the need for personalised supplementation strategies and further research to determine the optimal treatment approach for improving both metabolic and reproductive health in women with PCOS.

Keywords

Calcium supplementation, Menstrual cycle abnormalities, Reproductive health

Introduction
The PCOS, a prevalent endocrine disorder, impacts women in their reproductive years. It is identified by irregular periods, excess male hormones and ovaries with multiple cysts. PCOS has important clinical consequences, such as reproductive, metabolic and psychological issues (1). The occurrence of PCOS in India shows significant variability, with rates ranging from 3.7 to 22.5% based on the specific diagnostic criteria utilised (1). The overall prevalence according to Rotterdam’s criteria is approximately 10% (2). This strong prevalence highlights the significance of early detection and treatment in reducing long-term health dangers (3). Most evidence indicates that insulin resistance exacerbates excess androgen production in adolescent and adult PCOS patients. It has been repeatedly suggested that addressing insulin resistance improves reproductive and metabolic abnormalities, potentially reducing the future risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in PCOS women (4). Vitamin D deficiency has been proposed as a potential link between insulin resistance and PCOS (5).

Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, is synthesised endogenously through sunlight-induced conversion of cholesterol to 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin or obtained from the diet. Vitamin D undergoes two hydroxylations: first, in the liver by 25-hydroxylase to form 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and second, in the kidney by 1 alpha-hydroxylase to form 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), the active metabolite. Circulating 1,25(OH)2D binds to Vitamin D Receptors (VDR) to exert its effects. Serum 25(OH)D, the major circulating form of vitamin D, is the primary indicator of vitamin D status with a half-life of 2-3 weeks, compared to 4-6 hours for 1,25(OH)2D (6).

For many years, vitamin D’s role has been suggested beyond calcium and bone homeostasis due to the presence of VDR and 1 alpha-hydroxylase in various tissues, including pancreatic beta-cells, immune cells and reproductive organs in both genders (4). This assumption is supported by the discovery that the active vitamin D-VDR complex regulates over 300 genes, including those crucial for glucose and lipid metabolism and gonadal function (7).

The biological actions of vitamin D are mediated through VDR, a member of the steroid/thyroid nuclear hormone receptor superfamily (8). VDR is found in calcium-regulating tissues like intestines, skeleton and parathyroid glands, as well as reproductive organs such as the ovary (particularly granulosa cells), uterus, placenta, testis, hypothalamus and pituitary (9),(10). This widespread expression of VDR suggests a potential role for vitamin D in female reproductive physiology (9). Parikh G et al., demonstrated that vitamin D increased the production of progesterone, oestrogen, oestrone and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 in human ovarian cells (11).

Overall, this systematic review aimed to address the significant challenges posed by PCOS by systematically evaluating the impacts of vitamin D and calcium supplementation along with metformin or alone on metabolic status, menstrual cycle irregularities and follicular response. By synthesising existing evidence, this study seeks to inform clinical decision-making, enhance understanding of PCOS pathogenesis, and lay the groundwork for more personalised and effective supportive interventions, ultimately improving the health and well-being of women with PCOS.

Research question: What are the effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on metabolic status, menstrual cycle abnormalities, and follicular response in women with PCOS.

Method: This systematic review followed the guidelines of the PRISMA.
Material and Methods
A literature search strategy involved finding relevant studies from different electronic databases, such as PubMed, PubMed Central, Web of Science, Scopus, CENTRAL, EBMR, and Google Scholar between January 2010 and April 2024. Keywords covered include polycystic ovarian syndrome, vitamin D, calcium compounds, calcitriol and the combination thereof. Furthermore, cited references of retrieved trials and systematic reviews were manually screened to identify any additional relevant trials that were not found by the electronic search (Table/Fig 1).

Screening: To determine eligibility for inclusion, all selected articles were initially screened based on their title and abstract. The identified citations were then imported into Zotero, where duplicate articles were eliminated. Articles were then evaluated by two independent reviewers under the selection criteria. A third mediator helped to settle any disputes. Full-text versions of studies that met the inclusion criteria were obtained. Once duplicate entries were eliminated, a final evaluation of the articles was carried out using the predetermined criteria for inclusion and exclusion.

Inclusion criteria:

Study design: The study included both observational studies (such as cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies) and Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) to examine the effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on PCOS.
Participants: Women diagnosed with PCOS according to recognised diagnostic criteria, regardless of age or ethnicity, were included. Diagnosis of PCOS required the presence of at least two out of three criteria: hyperandrogenism (clinical and/or biochemical), oligo-ovulation or anovulation and polycystic ovaries on ultrasound examination (12).
Intervention: The focus was on the effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation, either alone or in combination, on metabolic status, menstrual irregularities and follicular response in women with PCOS.
Outcome measures: Studies reporting significant clinical outcomes related to metabolic parameters (e.g., insulin sensitivity, lipid profile), menstrual regularity and follicular response (e.g., ovarian morphology, follicular development) were included.

Exclusion criteria:

• Studies involving individuals with other underlying endocrine disorders or significant co-morbidities unrelated to PCOS, to ensure the homogeneity of the study participants.
• Studies lacking significant outcome measures, to avoid insufficient data for evaluation.
• Non-human studies, reviews, opinions, editorials, and conference abstracts.

Quality assessment: The evaluation of the studies’ quality was carried out with the JBI checklist for systematic reviews (13). The checklist consisted of 11 criteria. Two evaluators individually assessed each attribute on the list, indicating whether the answers were “yes” or “no.” A score of one was given for each “yes” response, and zero for each “no”, leading to a maximum score of 11. Quality was specifically evaluated in the methodology and results sections of the studies. The review included studies with a score of six or above (Table/Fig 2).
Results
A comprehensive review was conducted to assess the impact of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on metabolic status, menstrual irregularities and follicular response in women with PCOS. A total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria, including 10 RCTs, seven of which were double-blind placebo-controlled, two were single-arm open-label trials, and one was an RCT pilot trial. Additionally, one case-control and one comparative observational study was included (Table/Fig 3) (14),(15),(16),(17),(18),(19),(20),(21),(22),(23),(24),(25).

Figurová J et al., compared alfacalcidol (vitamin D), metformin, and their combination in 39 women with PCOS (14). The study found significant reductions in body weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, total body fat and serum glucose levels in the metformin group compared to the alfacalcidol group (p-value <0.05).

Firouzabadi Rd et al., studied 100 infertile women with PCOS, where one group received metformin and the other received metformin with calcium and vitamin D supplements (15). The combination group showed improved menstrual regularity, follicle maturation and weight loss. The study also corrected vitamin D deficiency in most participants, suggesting a beneficial effect of calcium and vitamin D on PCOS symptoms.

Pal L et al., evaluated 12 overweight women with PCOS and vitamin D deficiency (16). After three months of vitamin D and calcium supplementation, improvements were seen in serum 25OHD levels, blood pressure and androgen levels, though glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance remained unchanged.

Raja-Khan N et al., conducted a 12-week study on 28 women with PCOS, finding that vitamin D supplementation significantly increased 25OHD levels and reduced 2-hour insulin levels, with no major impact on other insulin sensitivity markers (17). The study highlighted an improvement in diastolic blood pressure.

Maktabi M et al., performed a 12-week trial on 70 women with PCOS (18). Vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose, insulin, The Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and improved inflammatory markers like hs-CRP and plasma Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. However, no significant effects were observed on hormonal or lipid profiles.

Seyyed Abootorabi M et al., conducted an 8-week study on 44 participants, reporting significant decreases in fasting plasma glucose and HOMA-B improvements in the vitamin D group (19). Vitamin D supplementation also significantly increased adiponectin and serum vitamin D levels.

Jamilian M et al., studied 95 women with PCOS, where vitamin D supplementation (4000 IU) led to significant improvements in fasting plasma glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, testosterone levels, and Hirsutism (20). Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) levels increased significantly, showing the beneficial effects of vitamin D in combination with metformin.

Kadoura S et al., evaluated 40 women, finding that calcium and vitamin D supplementation improved menstrual cycle regularity and increased 25-OH-vitamin D levels (21). However, weight, BMI, and waist-to-hip ratios decreased in both groups without significant differences.

Al-Bayyari N et al., demonstrated that 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 weekly improved serum 25(OH)D levels, reduced hirsutism scores, and improved androgen and reproductive health markers in overweight women with PCOS (22).

Garg S and Makhija N, studied 96 women, concluding that vitamin D supplementation significantly improved clinical, hormonal, metabolic, and sonographic parameters, particularly in reducing HOMA-IR and improving oligomenorrhoea and hirsutism (23).

Azemi Z et al., showed that calcium and vitamin D co-supplementation significantly improved insulin sensitivity and certain lipid parameters in overweight PCOS patients (24).

Trummer C et al., found that vitamin D supplementation in 180 women led to increased 25(OH)D levels but had limited impact on metabolic and endocrine parameters, except for reduced glucose during an OGTT (25).

Metabolic and endocrine status: The systematic review revealed mixed findings regarding the effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on metabolic parameters in women with PCOS. Some studies reported improvements in insulin sensitivity and lipid profiles following supplementation (15),(18),(19),(23),(24), while few other studies found no significant changes compared to placebo or control groups (14),(17),(25). Variability in supplementation protocols, including dosage, duration, and participant characteristics, may have contributed to the inconsistencies in metabolic outcomes across studies.

Menstrual cycle abnormalities: Studies investigating the effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on menstrual consistency in women with PCOS showed promising results. Supplementation was associated with improvements in monthly cycle regularity and a reduction in menstrual irregularities in several RCTs (21),(22),(23). These findings suggest that vitamin D and calcium may play a role in managing PCOS in women, though further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms.

Follicular response: Evidence on the effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on follicular response in women with PCOS was limited and inconclusive. Few studies reported improvements in follicular development and ovarian function with supplementation (15),(16),(20),(22) while some others found no significant changes compared to control groups (14),(17),(25). Variability in study designs and methodologies may have contributed to discrepancies in follicular response outcome.
Discussion
The findings from this review suggest that vitamin D supplementation, either alone or in combination with calcium, may lead to improvements in insulin resistance, as measured by the HOMA-IR, and lipid profiles in women with PCOS. For instance, Study by Irani M and Merhi Z, reported that vitamin D supplementation led to improvements in menstrual cycle regularity and follicular development (26). These improvements are hypothesised to be mediated by the role of vitamin D in ovarian folliculogenesis and the modulation of Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) levels, a marker of ovarian reserve that is often elevated in women with PCOS.

Conversely, Rashidi B et al., found no significant changes in menstrual cycle regularity or follicular response following supplementation (27). The discrepancies in findings may be attributed to variations in study design, dosage and duration of supplementation, as well as differences in the baseline vitamin D status of participants. It is also possible that vitamin D and calcium supplementation alone may not be sufficient to induce significant changes in reproductive outcomes, suggesting the need for adjunctive therapies or lifestyle interventions.

Implications for Practice

The findings of this systematic review have several implications for clinical practice in managing PCOS. Healthcare providers should consider integrating vitamin D and calcium supplementation as adjunctive therapies for women with PCOS, especially those with metabolic disturbances or menstrual irregularities. Regular monitoring of metabolic parameters and menstrual cycle regularity can help assess treatment response and adjust supplementation regimens accordingly. Additionally, healthcare professionals should address modifiable risk factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and socio-economic status to optimise treatment outcomes and improve overall health in women with PCOS.

Future Recommendations

Despite the promising findings, further research is needed to better understand the role of vitamin D and calcium supplementation in managing PCOS. Future studies should focus on the mechanisms underlying the observed effects of supplementation, including potential interactions with hormonal and metabolic pathways. Long-term, RCTs with larger sample sizes are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of supplementation and determine optimal dosing regimens. Additionally, research on the impact of supplementation on fertility and pregnancy outcomes in women with PCOS would provide valuable insights into the broader effects on reproductive health.

Limitation(s)

While this systematic review provides important insights into the effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation in women with PCOS, several limitations should be acknowledged. The heterogeneity in study designs, participant characteristics, and outcome measures across included studies may limit the comparability and generalisability of the findings. Additionally, the potential for publication bias and selective reporting cannot be completely ruled out, which may affect the strength of the evidence base. Furthermore, the review may be subject to inherent biases in the selection and interpretation of studies, despite efforts to minimise bias through systematic methodology and careful quality assessment. These limitations underscore the need for a cautious interpretation of the findings and highlight the importance of continued research to address remaining gaps in knowledge regarding supplementation strategies for PCOS.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while there is evidence to suggest that vitamin D and calcium supplementation may improve metabolic status in women with PCOS, the effects on menstrual cycle regularity and follicular response remain inconclusive. Given the heterogeneity of PCOS and the variability in study findings, a personalised approach to supplementation, considering baseline vitamin D status and individual metabolic and reproductive profiles, may be warranted. Further research is needed to elucidate the optimal dosage, duration, and combination of supplements for improving both metabolic and reproductive outcomes in women with PCOS.
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DOI and Others
DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2025/78879.20733

Date of Submission: Feb 24, 2025
Date of Peer Review: Feb 28, 2025
Date of Acceptance: Mar 06, 2025
Date of Publishing: Apr 01, 2025

AUTHOR DECLARATION:
• Financial or Other Competing Interests: None
• Was Ethics Committee Approval obtained for this study? NA
• Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? NA
• For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. NA

PLAGIARISM CHECKING METHODS:
• Plagiarism X-checker: Feb 25, 2025
• Manual Googling: Mar 01, 2025
• iThenticate Software: Mar 04, 2025 (21%)

ETYMOLOGY: Author Origin

EMENDATIONS: 4
Tables and Figures
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