Vitamin D and benign gynaecological diseases: a critical analysis of the current evidence |
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Authors: | Laura Buggio Elena Roncella Edgardo Somigliana Paolo Vercellini |
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Institution: | Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, Istituto Ostetrico e Ginecologico ‘Luigi Mangiagalli’, Università degli Studi, Milano, Italy |
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Abstract: | Vitamin D is a fat-soluble pro-hormone that plays an important role in bone homeostasis; beside this principal function, vitamin D promotes modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and reduction of inflammation. In addition, several in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency could increase the risk of cancer, autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, vitamin D plays also an important role in female reproduction, because vitamin D receptors are expressed in ovarian tissue, endometrium, fallopian epithelial cells as well as in decidua and placenta. We aimed to review the most updated evidence, which suggests a link between vitamin D metabolism and the development of some gynaecological diseases, such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids and polycystic ovary syndrome. |
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Keywords: | Endometriosis overdiagnosis polycystic ovary syndrome uterine fibroids vitamin D |
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