Vitamin D lowered some PCOS markers, while other comparisons were inconclusive
A meta-analysis found lower insulin-resistance, inflammation, and testosterone measures with vitamin D than placebo, without clear differences in several other laboratory markers.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Vitamin D was linked to lower values for an insulin-resistance index, fasting insulin, an inflammatory marker, and total testosterone in patients with PCOS. Several other measurements showed no statistically significant differences. These results concern laboratory markers; the abstract does not establish improvements in symptoms, fertility, or longer-term health, and it does not identify an optimal dose.
The abstract does not report participant totals, treatment duration, doses, or study-level bias assessments. This abstract-based summary therefore cannot establish how clinically meaningful or dependable the marker changes are.
What researchers found
Insulin-resistance index (HOMA-IR)
Mean difference for vitamin D versus placebo; treatment duration not reported in the abstract.
What the studies measured
The review pooled treatment studies focused on hormonal, metabolic, and inflammatory measurements. Its reported outcomes describe changes in measured indicators, rather than whether participants felt better or experienced fewer clinical complications.
Several comparisons were inconclusive
Fasting glucose, blood lipids, and several other hormone measures did not show statistically significant differences. That limits claims of broad metabolic improvement, but it does not prove that vitamin D has no effect on those outcomes.
The original publication
A meta-analysis of the effects of vitamin D supplementation on endocrine metabolic and inflammatory markers in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Wu B, Yao J
Medicine (Baltimore) · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41496027
- Record checked
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