Objective: To determine the effect of treatment with vitamin D(3) analogue in the parameters of glucose metabolism in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Design: Observational study.
Setting: Obese women with PCOS in an academic research environment.
Patient(s): Fifteen obese women (mean age 28 +/- 1.3 years, mean body mass index 32.55 +/- 0.43) with documented chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenism were recruited into the study.
Intervention(s): Alphacalcidol (1-alpha-hydroxyvitamin D(3)) was administered orally 1 microg/day for 3 months. All subjects underwent a frequently sampled IV glucose tolerance test after a 10- to 12-hour overnight fast during a spontaneous bleeding episode before and after treatment with alphacalcidol.
Main outcome measure(s): Peripheral insulin resistance and insulin effectiveness were estimated with minimal model.
Result(s): The first phase of insulin secretion was significantly increased after treatment with alphacalcidol. A favorable statistically significant change also was observed in the lipid profile.
Conclusion(s): Treatment with the vitamin D(3) analogue (alphacalcidol) could be of value in the management of PCOS.