Serum Levels of Vitamin D in Nigerian Women with Uterine Fibroids: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Introduction: Uterine fibroids (UFs) very common benign tumours of the uterine smooth muscle cells commoner in blacks and vitamin D may be a potential risk factor.

Aim: To evaluate vitamin D serum levels in women with and without UF.

Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based case-control study. Serum levels of vitamin D were determined in adult female patients with and without UF. Pre-tested Questionnaires were also used to collect biodata, reproductive characteristics, diet and other confounders for vitamin D. SPSS version 27 was used to analyse data with a Pvalue < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: The mean vitamin D level for all participants was 34.96 ± 30.47 (ng/ml). There were more cases of women with uterine fibroids that had vitamin D deficiency (43, 53.1%) than when compared to the controls (38, 46.9%). The mean vitamin D levels were not statistically different (p value > 0.05) among cases 37.6 ± 33.8 (ng/ml) and controls 32.3 ± 26.5 (ng/ml) (table 4), both being within sufficient levels. There were significant associations between marital status, infertility, skin colour, exposed body parts, exercise, intake of dairy and oily fish and vitamin D levels (p value < 0.05).

Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference in vitamin D levels between women with uterine fibroids and controls in this study population.