The Role of Vitamin D in Male and Female Reproductive Health: A Review Study

Abstract

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is common during reproductive age. Recent data suggest that vitamin D deficiency is associated with poor reproductive function in women and men. Therefore, this study was performed with aim to determine the role of vitamin D on some reproductive function (such as polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, myoma, premature ovary failure, male infertility, and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods: In this review study, Persian and English articles that published during 1997 to 2016 with keywords of vitamin D, infertility, fertility were searched in PubMed, Magiran, Google Scholar, Iranmedex, Scopus, Irandoc and SID databases. Results: A total of 35 studies which were extracted from 302 articles related to the role of vitamin D on some reproductive function were studied. The results of latest research articles in this field were discussed and summarized. Conclusion: Deficiency of vitamin D defined as serum concentration of <20 ng/ml is common in reproductive age. Vitamin D deficiency has a role in reproductive dysfunction, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, uterine fibroids, abnormal semen parameters and in IVF failure. So, vitamin D supplementation is advised in infertility therapy in both male and female.

Keywords

• assisted reproductive techniques
• endometriosis infertility
• infertility
• in vitro fertilization
• male infertility
• myoma infertility
• premature ovary failure
• polycystic ovary syndrome
• vitamin d