الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a significant and universal health dilemma. VDD is linked to its familiar sequel on bone and calcium homeostasis as well as variable pleiotropic actions. Hence, VDD problem rises and its sufficient level represent a pivotal concern in our community health as well as clinical practice.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy among women of reproductive age with prevalence up to 10% depending on diagnostic criteria. It is characterized by: ovulatory dysfunction resulting in oligo-amenorrhea and/or anovulation, hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovarian morphology by ultrasound. Metabolic disturbances are present in majority of women with PCOS including impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and insulin resistance (IR) with compensatory hyperinsulinemia. It may also create health risks as T2DM, endometrial cancer and cardiovascular disease being associated with anovulation, hyperinsulinemia and central obesity. Adipose tissue dysfunction acts as a contributor to IR in PCOS. However, a substantial number of lean women with PCOS have IR independent of obesity. Accumulating evidences from several studies suggest that VDD may be involved in several features of PCOS such as infertility, hirsutism, IR, and cardiovascular risk. It has been proposed as the possible missing link between IR and PCOS.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the suggested role of vitamin D in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to improve screening and therapy in women with PCOS. The study included 70 women in reproductive age (16-44 years old) divided into 2 groups: group I: 50 women in re¬productive age with PCOS and group II: 20 healthy women defined as women in re¬productive age with regular menstrual cycles.
Exclusion criteria included: current pregnancy or breast feeding, conditions known to affect vitamin D level either metabolism like renal disease and liver disease or absorption as gastro intestinal problems e.g. inflammatory bowel diseases, calcium and vitamin D supplementation during 6 months prior to the study, women with conditions or tumours known to affect the androgen levels e.g. :congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hyperprolactinemia, current or previous (within the last 6 months) use of androgen preparations, oral contraceptives, glucocorticoids, antiandrogens, ovulation induction agents, or other hormonal drugs known to affect the plasma sex steroid level, women with Cushing’s syndrome, thyroid dysfunction and smoking.