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Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a fungal infection that is a global issue of women's health due to its association with morbidity, infertility, and economic costs. This study aimed to compare the vitamin D3 levels between women with VVC to healthy controls and determine the species distribution and susceptibility pattern of isolates. Species identification was performed using sequencing of the ITS-rDNA regions and amplification of the HWP1 gene. Antifungal susceptibility testing was determined by the disk diffusion method. Moreover, serum vitamin D3 levels were measured using a commercial ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kit. Our results indicated that vitamin D3 level in women with VVC was lower than those of healthy women (p-value <.001). Candida albicans complex (62.8 percent) was the most common species, and most species were susceptible to fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, and nystatin. In conclusion, our study revealed a potential link between vitamin D3 deficiency and VVC in women. Although our findings showed significantly lower vitamin D3 levels in women with VVC, further research is needed to establish a definitive causative relationship between vitamin D3 deficiency and VVC. Nonetheless, our study highlights the potential importance of maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D3 and the need for further exploration in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to assess the individual and joint association of serum vitamin D and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetSyn). In this cross-sectional study 270 adults with an age range of 18 years and older were recruited from health centers from five districts in Tehran, Iran. CRF was assessed with Bruce protocol. MetSyn was defined based on International Diabetes Federation 2009. The odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) of obesity and MetSyn across tertiles of serum vitamin D and CRF were estimated with control for confounders. The results indicated that neither 25(OH)D nor 1,25(OH)D was associated with obesity and MetSyn. There was a strong inverse association between CRF and general (P-trend < 0.001) and abdominal adiposity (P-trend: 0.001). The joint association of vitamin D and CRF indicated that the inverse association of CRF with obesity was stronger in those with high serum vitamin D than those with low serum vitamin D and this joint association remained after considering age and diet quality. There was a significant inverse association for those with low serum 25(OH)D and high CRF (OR: 0.12, 95 % CI: 0.04–0.81; P = 0.02) compared to those with low serum 25(OH)D and low CRF in the crude model. Also, the OR of general obesity was 0.17 (95 % CI: 0.02–0.79; P = 0.03) for those with high CRF and low serum 1,25(OH)D compare with the reference group. Our findings indicated a strong inverse association between CRF and obesity, especially in those with high serum vitamin D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Topiramate is effective in the prevention of pediatric migraine, and studies show that vitamin D3 supplementation might also be useful in the treatment of adult migraineurs with a normal vitamin D3 level. The present study aimed at comparing the efficacy and safety of topiramate plus vitamin D3 and topiramate alone in the prophylaxis of pediatric migraine. Materials & Methods In a single-blinded, randomized, clinical trial, 5-15-year-old children with migraine headaches, referred to the Pediatric Neurology Clinic of Shahid Sadoughi Medical Sciences University, Yazd, Iran from January 2016 to January 2017, were randomly allocated to receive 2 mg/kg/day of topiramate or 2 mg/kg/day of topiramate plus one 500,000 IU vitamin D3 pearl weekly for two consecutive months. Primary outcomes were the reduction of monthly frequency, severity, duration, and the disability score of migraine, and the secondary outcomes included a good response to treatment (more than 50% reduction in monthly headache frequency) and a lack of clinical adverse events. Results Totally, 31 female and 26 male children with the mean age of 10.02±2.11 years were evaluated. Both drugs were effective in the reduction of monthly frequency, severity, duration, and disability for headaches. Nevertheless, the combination of topiramate and vitamin D3 was more effective than topiramate alone in reducing the monthly headaches frequency (6.12±1.26 vs. 9.87±2.44 times, P=0.01) and disability score (19.24±6.32 vs. 22.11±7.91, P=0.02). Good response to treatment was observed in 60.7% and 75.9% of the subjects in the topiramate alone and topiramate plus vitamin D3 groups, respectively, and topiramate plus vitamin D3 was more effective (P= 0.01). Transient mild side effects were observed in 14.3% and 17.2% of the subjects in the topiramate alone and topiramate plus vitamin D3 groups, respectively (P=0.8). Conclusion A combination of Topiramate and vitamin D3 might be considered safe and more effective than Topiramate alone in the prophylaxis of pediatric migraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ginger and vitamin D3 supplement on inflammatory factors and pain severity in adults with low back pain. To achieve the research objectives, 120 patients with chronic low back pain admitted to Akhtar and Imam Hossein Hospitals were selected by random sampling method in 2017. They were randomly divided into three groups: ginger, vitamin D3 and control. The drugs were provided for each group in uniform packages with specific code for six weeks. In order to evaluate the variables, visual analogue scale (VAS, CRP, IL-6) was used before the start of the study and six weeks after the study. Data were analyzed using covariance analysis. The results showed no significant difference between ginger and vitamin D3 in the levels of VAS and IL-6, while significant difference was found between the ginger group and the control group and between vitamin D3 group and control group. Other results revealed that CRP reduction was significantly higher in both ginger and vitamin D3 groups than that in the control group. In addition, ginger led to significant reduction in CRP factor compared to vitamin D3. It is recommended for physicians to use ginger, which has fewer side effects, as a substitute for chemical drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Previous research has established that Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) deficiency is considered to be a highly prevalent nutritional problem worldwide. Data from National Food and Nutrition Surveillance Program (2015) revealed that prevalence of vitamin D3 deficiency in Iran is more than 70% of the population. Vegetable oils are considered to be potential candidates for fortification with vitamin D3. Although exposure to high temperatures has been shown to cause adverse effects in vitamin D3 content of food products, research to date has not yet determined the stability of added vitamin D3 in vegetable oils during cooking procedures. Materials and Methods: An 80/20% (eighty/twenty) mixture of fortified oils/water subjected to low temperature (105°C, for 0, 60, 120 and 180 minutes) and high temperature (160°C, for 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 minutes) under reflux condition in order to determine the destruction rate of vitamin D3. The vitamin D3 concentration was determined by HPLC method with following operating conditions: apparatus, SHIMADZU10-ATVP; column, C18 column, 5 mm, 150_4mm id; mobile phase, methanol; ambient temperature; flow rate, 1.0 ml/min Results: This study has identified that retention rate of added vitamin D3 in corn, sunflower and canola oils during normal cooking process varies from 68.6% to 87.4%. Conclusions: This study has shown that retention of added vitamin D3 in various vegetable oils depends on the range of natural vitamin D3 retention in cooking of foodstuffs. This result will be of interest to clinical researchers and policymakers concerned with the fortification of food products mainly vitamin D3 fortification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: : Vitamin D3 measurement in food and fortified food matrixes is usually interrupted by several variables. This study aimed to elaborate a specific vitamin D3 quantification method for fortified Taftoon bread considering different influential variables in each step of measurement. Materials and Methods: Dough was fortified with (4µg/100g) and the standard protocol No.13579 was followed with some modification in the extraction and determination steps. Results: Addition of ethanol before adding potassium hydroxide and heating up the samples in tight containers in saponification step ceased clumping the extracts and helps it's homogeneity. In extraction, distilled water addition following extraction with diethyl ether and Petroleum ether, adding ethanol at each step of washing and using SPE column result in an appropriate experimental extract. In the chromatography step, mobile phase substitution from methanol to 5:95 water, methanol mixture provided the method with more differentiation power. Using the above condition, commercial vitamin D3 was recovered from fortified Taftoon dough with 82-100% recovery and recovery of spiked vitamin D2 from dough and bread were ranged as 94 and 86.5%, respectively, Limit Of Detection(LOD) and Limit Of Quantification(LOQ) of the method were 0.04 and 0.1mg L-1 respectively, which equaled 5µg/Kg and 10µg/Kg. True retention for the added commercial vitamin D3 in Taftoon bread was obtained as 83.4% which increased to 92% after six months storage in freezer. Conclusions: Results of this study can be used to specify a protocol for vitamin D3 measurement in fortified bread samples. Modified experiment which is projected in this study would specify the general protocol of vitamin D3 measurement that was previously proposed in the national standard of Iran for developing a new and practical national standard document. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urinary incontinence, especially stress urinary incontinence (SUI), is one of the problems experienced by premenopausal women. Given the role of vitamin D in enhancing muscle strength and function, this study explored the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on SUI in premenopausal women., Methods: A randomized controlled trial was performed with 60 premenopausal women referring to Kerman gynecological clinic in 2020 and 2021. Eligible women received a 5000-unit vitamin D supplement or placebo weekly for 3 months. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-SF) was utilized to assess SUI severity before and after the intervention. The t-test, Chi-square test, and repeated measures ANOVA were carried out in SPSS software (version 22) to analyze the data. P-values smaller than 0.05 were considered significant., Results: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in SUI severity (P = 0.652) and the impact of SUI severity on premenopausal women's lives (P = 0.804). In contrast, after 8-12 weeks of vitamin D supplementation, these scores decreased significantly in the intervention group relative to the control group (P &lt;  0.001). In addition, after vitamin D supplementation, the number of SUI and urinary leakage symptoms decreased in the intervention group (P &lt;  0.001)., Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation improves SUI in premenopausal women., Trial Registration: This trial was registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials; https://fa.irct.ir/trial/53474 (IRCT20190724044318N2) on 11/02/2021., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Vitamin D is an important factor responsible for many physiologic functions. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk of neurodegenerative disease. The level of vitamin D in Iranian patients with Parkinson's disease and its relationship with severity of symptoms and signs were evaluated in this study. Methods: Eighty-three patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) were recruited using simple non-random sampling. 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D3] was measured by Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). Serum level of calcium and phosphorus was measured to exclude other endocrine disorders. Results: The mean 25(OH)D3 concentration was lower in the PD population than in the normal group. Lower levels of 25(OH)D3 were associated with more severe postural instability and abnormal posture. There was no significant association between levels of 25(OH)D3 and severity of other symptoms of parkinsonism. Conclusion: This analysis showed that serum 25(OH)D levels are lower in PD patients in comparison with normal range. In addition, there was a significant association between the presences of freezing, postural instability and abnormal postures with lower levels of 25(OH)D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Vitamin D is essential for skeletal and nonskeletal health and prolonged deficiency results in infantile rickets and adult osteomalacia. The aim of this study is to determine 25(OH) VitD and iPTH status in pregnancy and to evaluate the effects of monthly 100.000 IU dose of vitamin D supplementation. Materials and Methods. In a double blind trial of vitamin D supplementation in pregnant Iranian women, vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol , 100/00 IU/month) was administered to 25 women and placebo to 25 controls during the last trimester. The two groups had similar distributions of maternal age, height, gravity, weight and age of gestation. Hydroxycholcalciferol and iPTH were measured in mothers at 27 weeks and at delivery. Cord blood was used to assess the same parameters. Results. Comparing the data final maternal 25 - hydroxyvitamin D levels were significantly higher in the supplemented group versus control group (61.45±30 ng/mL versus 29.4±16 ng/mL); P ≤ 0.001.Cord 25 - hydroxyvitamin D levels were significantly higher in supplementation group in comparison to control group (52 ± 40.5 ng/mLversus 36±21.3 ng/mL); P<0.005. Conclusion. Administration of 100/000 IU/monthly of vitamin D3 in the last trimester significantly increased 25(OH) VitD to high normal concentration. However, even with supplementation, only of mother and of newborn had serum 25(OH) VitD greater than 30 ng/mL a small percentage of women and babies were vitamin D sufficient. According to data of study we propose 100/000 IU monthly is safe for pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective is to evaluate the effects of vitamin D3 (VD3) on sperm parameters and seminal and serum oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers in asthenozoospermia infertile men. This randomized, triple-masking, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted on 86 asthenozoospermia infertile men with serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D3 (25-OH-D3) < 30 ng/ml in the infertility clinic of Ahvaz Jahad Daneshgahi, Iran. Patients were randomly allocated to groups A and B, who received daily 4000 IU vitamin D3 (VD3) and matching placebo respectively for 3 months. Demographic data, dietary intake, physical activity, sun exposure, anthropometric indices, serum and seminal levels of MDA (Malondialdehyde), 8-hydroxy-2- Dioxy Guanosine (8-OHDG), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and calcium, sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI), serum 25-OH-D3, parathyroid hormone (PTH), phosphorus, and sperm parameters were assessed. VD3 supplementation had no significant effects on body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), body fat (BF), 8-OHDG, DFI, semen volume, sperm count, and normal sperm morphology, but increased post-intervention mean and mean change of serum 25-OH-D3 (P < 0.001, P < 0.001), PTH (P < 0.001, P < 0.001) and phosphorus (P = 0.009, P = 0.049) and seminal calcium (P = 0.035, P = 0.038) and serum calcium (P = 0.008, P = 0.009), seminal TAC (P < 0.001, P < 0.001), and serum TAC (P = 0.007, P = 005), total sperm motility (P < 0.001, P < 0.001) and progressive sperm motility (P < 0.001, P < 0.001) and decreased seminal MDA (P = 0.017, P = 0.004) and serum MDA (P = 006, P = 0.005) significantly compared to the baseline and placebo group respectively. VD3 supplementation may modulate OS and affect sperm motility in men with asthenozoospermia and serum 25-OH-D3 < 30 ng/ml. Iran Clinical Trials Registry, ID: IRCT20151128025274N4, registered on 28 March 2018, URL of trial registry record: https://www.irct.ir/trial/29983., (© 2021. Society for Reproductive Investigation.)