Investigating the Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Effects on Female Fertility in Albyda City, Libya

Abstract

Research suggests a strong connection between a woman's vitamin D level and her reproductive health, including infertility and hormonal imbalance. This research aimed to assess how common vitamin D deficiency is among women and to offer a detailed analysis of the relationship between vitamin D status and infertility in females. Furthermore, it was aimed to examine the correlation between serum vitamin D, reproductive hormones (LH, FSH and prolactin) and BMI in 380 women of reproductive age (18-45). The study included 260 women in an infertility group and 120 healthy women as a control group. Serum 25(OH)D levels, body mass index (BMI), and hormonal parameters were evaluated. Most participants (60%) were found to have vitamin D deficiency, defined as levels below 20 ng/mL. This deficiency occurred significantly more often in infertile women (p = 0.001). In addition, a statistically significant relationship was observed between low vitamin D levels and obesity (p < 0.05). Spearman’s analysis indicated a weak negative correlation between vitamin D status and the study groups (rs = −0.177, p = 0.001). However, no significant associations were detected between vitamin D and other measured variables across the entire sample. A possible link between vitamin D and FSH was identified only among obese participants (p = 0.013). Overall, the results highlight that vitamin D deficiency is widespread in women of reproductive age and may be associated with infertility and hormonal disturbances, particularly in those who are obese.