Effect of Vitamin D Therapy on Sexual Function in Women with Sexual Dysfunction and Vitamin D Deficiency: a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial.
J Urol. 2018 Nov 2. pii: S0022-5347(18)44048-7. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2018.10.019.
Jalali-Chimeh F1, Gholamrezaei A2, Vafa M3, Nasiri M4, Abiri B5, Darooneh T6, Ozgoli G7.
- 1 Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, and Students Research Committee, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: fatemehjalali_ch at yahoo.com.
- 2 Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: ali.gholamrezaei at kuleuven.be.
- 3 Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: vafa.m at iums.ac.ir.
- 4 Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Paramedic, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: malihenasiri at gmail.com.
- 5 Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Paramedic, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Electronic address: behnaz.abiri at yahoo.com.
- 6 Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, and Students Research Committee, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: TDarooneh at yahoo.com.
- 7 Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: gozgoli at sbmu.ac.ir.
PURPOSE:
To investigate the effect of vitamin D therapy on sexual function in women with low vitamin D levels and sexual dysfunction.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on women aged 18-45 years with sexual dysfunction (Female Sexual Functioning Index score of <26.55) and a serum 25OHD level of <30 ng/mL. Participants received an intramuscular injection of 300,000 IU cholecalciferol or a placebo at baseline and then after four weeks. Sexual function was evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index at baseline, and then after four and eight weeks. The serum level of 25OHD and depression symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory) were evaluated at baseline and then after eight weeks.
RESULTS:
Thirty-eight women in each group completed the study. The serum levels of 25OHD increased only in the cholecalciferol group by 14.4 ± 3.2 ng/mL (P<0.001).
The Female Sexual Function Index score was higher in the intervention group at the
- 4th (19.6 vs. 16.3, P=0.002) and
- 8th (25.0 vs. 17.1, P <0.001)
weeks of the study.
The Beck Depression Inventory score was significantly decreased only in the cholecalciferol group by -21.0 ± 12.3 (P<0.001). The effect of treatment on sexual function was independent from its effect on symptoms of depression.
CONCLUSION:
Vitamin D therapy in women with sexual dysfunction and vitamin D deficiency can improve their sexual function. This effect does not seem to be mediated by the improvement of depression symptoms.