The most commonly diagnosed endocrine, or hormonal, disorder in girls and women is polycystic ovary syndrome, abbreviated PCOS. This condition is characterized by higher levels of androgen hormones, or male hormones, and is associated with a variety of metabolic and hormonal disturbances. Insulin resistance, another hormonal derangement, also appears to be involved in most of the women affected by this condition and is responsible for many of the symptoms experienced with PCOS. A proper diet is key for improving your hormonal profile and managing your symptoms.
PCOS Symptoms
PCOS causes many different symptoms and affects different organs and tissues of the body. Because of the hormonal derangement involved in this condition, most women with PCOS experience an irregular menstrual cycle, while some experience amenorrhea, or the absence of menstrual cycle. Acne, depression, weight gain or the inability to lose weight, excessive facial or body hair growth and fertility problems are also part of the classic symptoms affecting women with PCOS.
Insulin Resistance and Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an important vitamin that appears to act more like a hormone in the human body. In addition to promoting calcium absorption and bone health, vitamin D is involved with proper insulin action. Low levels of vitamin D are associated with insulin resistance, or an inability of the body cells to respond properly to normal concentrations of insulin. This is why insulin resistance often results in hyperinsulinemia, or high blood insulin levels, in an attempt of your body to get your insulin to produce the desired effect. According to a study published in 2004 in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," low vitamin D levels are associated with insulin resistance while higher vitamin D levels are associated with better insulin sensitivity.
Get Tested
Ask your doctor to have your vitamin D levels tested. The test required to measure your vitamin D levels is 25-hydroxyvitamin D and levels below 30 ng/ml indicate a vitamin D deficiency. Almost three-quarters of the women diagnosed with PCOS have low levels of vitamin D, which would contribute to the metabolic disturbances and symptoms experienced by these women, according to a study published in 2009 in the "European Journal of Endocrinology."
Get Your Vitamin D in the Optimal Range
If your vitamin D levels are not optimal, your doctor may recommend vitamin D supplementation. The dietary reference intakes as of 2011 correspond to 600 IU a day, but this amount is difficult to obtain from food alone. Moreover, if you are deficient, you will likely require higher amounts to bring your vitamin D levels back in the optimal range. According to a study published in the April 2010 issue of the "Journal of Endocrinological Investigations," optimizing your vitamin D status will decrease the insulin resistance associated with your PCOS and is likely to improve your symptoms.
References
- PCOSupport: What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
- OBGYN.net: PCOS and Diet
- "European Journal of Endocrinology"; Association of Hypovitaminosis D With Metabolic Disturbances in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; E. Wehr, et al.; 2009
- "Journal of Endocrinological Investigation"; The Effect of Vitamin D Replacement Therapy on Insulin Resistance and Androgen Levels in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; H. Selimoglu; April 2010
- Institute of Medicine: Dietary Reference Intakes: Recommended Dietary Allowances and Adequate Intakes
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Estimation of optimal serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D for multiple health outcomes; Ken C Chiu, et al.; 2004
