Vol 69, No 2 (2018)
Original paper
Published online: 2018-01-18
The effect of vitamin D supplementation on sexual functioning and depressive symptoms in young women with low vitamin D status
Abstract
Background: Hypovitaminosis D is associated with abnormal female sexual functioning. The aim of our study was to assess whether vitamin D supplementation affects sexual functioning and depressive symptoms in young women with low vitamin D status.
Methods: The study included 47 women with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. All women with vitamin D deficiency were treated with oral vitamin D, while women with vitamin D insufficiency were either treated with vitamin D or left untreated. At the beginning of the study and six months later, all patients completed questionnaires evaluating female sexual function (FSFI) and depressive symptoms (BDI-II).
Results: The total FSFI score and scores in three domains (sexual desire, orgasm and satisfaction) were lower while the overall BDI-II score was higher in women with vitamin D deficiency than in women with vitamin D insufficiency. Vitamin D improved sexual desire in women with both vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D insufficiency, increased the total FSFI score and scores for orgasm and sexual satisfaction, as well as decreased the total BDI-II score in women with vitamin D deficiency.
Conclusions: The obtained results indicate that vitamin D supplementation improves female sexual functioning and mood in women with low vitamin D status. < p > < /p >
Keywords: depressive symptoms25-hydroxyvitamin Dquestionnairessexual functioningvitamin D status
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