1. Effect of Vitamin D Supplement on Vulvovaginal Atrophy of the Menopause
- Author
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Areepan Sophonsritsuk, Jittima Manonai, Orawin Vallibhakara, Sakda Arj-Ong Vallibhakara, and Thawinee Kamronrithisorn
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,Vaginal health ,Visual analogue scale ,030209 endocrinology & metabolism ,vitamin D ,lcsh:TX341-641 ,Vulvovaginal atrophy ,Placebo ,Gastroenterology ,Article ,03 medical and health sciences ,vulvovaginal atrophy ,0302 clinical medicine ,Double-Blind Method ,vaginal maturation index ,Internal medicine ,Vitamin D and neurology ,Humans ,Medicine ,vitamin D supplement ,030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine ,Nutrition and Dietetics ,business.industry ,vaginal health ,Vitamins ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,VMI ,Postmenopause ,Menopause ,Ergocalciferol ,Dietary Supplements ,Ergocalciferols ,Vagina ,Vitamin D supplement ,Female ,Atrophy ,business ,VVA ,lcsh:Nutrition. Foods and food supply ,ergocalciferol ,Food Science ,medicine.drug - Abstract
The effects of oral vitamin D supplements on vaginal health in postmenopausal women with vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) was evaluated. A double-blinded, randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted for 12 weeks to investigate changes on vaginal maturation index (VMI), vaginal pH, and the visual analog scale (VAS) of VVA symptoms. The vitamin D group received oral ergocalciferol, at 40,000 IU per week, while the placebo group received an identical placebo capsule. Eighty postmenopausal women were enrolled. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between both groups. In an intention-to-treat analysis, VMI, vaginal pH, and VAS of VVA symptoms showed no significant differences between both groups at the six and 12 weeks. However, the mean difference of VMI in the vitamin D group between baseline and at six weeks showed significant improvement (5.5 + 16.27, p <, 0.05). Moreover, the mean vaginal pH and VAS of VVA patients in the vitamin D group were significantly improved at both six and 12 weeks compared to baseline. The oral vitamin D supplementation for 12 weeks potentially improves vaginal health outcomes in postmenopausal women with VVA symptoms, demonstrated by the improved mean VMI, vaginal pH, and VAS at six and 12 weeks between baseline, however, no significant differences were observed from the placebo treatment.
- Published
- 2020