Saturday Aug 16, 2014 (Foodconsumer.org) -- Vitamin D deficiency has been known to affect fertility in mammals.  A new study has examined the effect of vitamin D on the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and found evidence suggesting that vitamin D deficiency can also reduce women's fertility.

Vitamin D deficiency was defined as having serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] below 20 ng/mL.  The study shows that women aged 18 to 42 years with serum 25(OH)D <20 ng/mL and ≥20 ng/mL who sought to receive IVF treatment had the clinical pregnancy rates at 20% and 31% respectively.  

After adjustment for other confounders, women with high vitamin D were twice as likely as those with low vitamin D to have a successful clinical pregnancy.   The clinical pregnancy rate was highest among women with the highest serum levels (greater than 30 ng/mL).

The study suggests that women who seek to have a baby via IVF should make sure they have sufficient vitamin D.  (David Liu, PHD)

Paffoni A, Ferrari S, Vigano P, Pagliardini L, Papaleo E, Candiani M, Tirelli A, Fedele L, Somigliana E.  Vitamin D Deficiency and Infertility: Insights From in vitro Fertilization Cycles.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014 Aug 14