Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) Outcomes

Historically, vitamin D has been considered to play a role solely in bone and calcium
metabolism. Numerous studies have suggested a link between vitamin D deficiency and adverse
health outcomes such as malignancy, cardiovascular disease, immune functioning, and glucose
metabolism. In the obstetrics literature, vitamin D deficiency has been linked to
preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and increased rate of cesarean section rate. Recent
data from retrospective chart reviews have demonstrated a possible role of vitamin D in
implantation and clinical pregnancy rates in patients undergoing in-vitro fertilization.
Patients found to be deficient in vitamin D were found to have significantly lower clinical
pregnancy rates when compared to patients who were replete in vitamin D levels. Currently,
there are no prospective clinical trials investigating the effects of vitamin D
supplementation on IVF outcomes such as clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rates. The
investigators hypothesize that the vitamin D supplementation in patients found to be either
deficient or insufficient in vitamin D will lead to improved pregnancy rates in infertility
patients undergoing in-vitro fertilization.