Association between Serum Vitamin A Levels and Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Risk

Abstract Purpose: The aim of the study was to explore the association between serum vitamin A levels and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, women with POI (n = 47) and normo-ovulatory controls (n = 67) were enrolled from December 2016 to May 2018 in Zhejiang, China. The serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), vitamin A, and total cholesterol (TC) were measured for each participant. The association of vitamin A levels with POI risk was assessed using binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Serum vitamin A levels seems slightly higher in the POI group than in the control group (728.00 ± 176.00 vs 503.93 ± 145.64 µg/L, p = 0.133). But after adjust with serum lipid level, serum vitamin A/TC ratio was significantly lower in the POI group than in the control group (143.14 ± 35.86 vs 157.56 ± 35.21 µg/mmol, p = 0.035). Further, serum vitamin A/TC ratio was significantly and negatively associated with POI risk [unadjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.988, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.977–0.999, p = 0.039]. The same trend was found after adjusting for confounding factors (age, BMI, annual household income, and education) (OR = 0.986, 95% CI: 0.972–0.999, p = 0.040). Conclusion: Serum vitamin A/TC ratio was negatively associated with POI risk, indicating that vitamin A deficiency may be a risk factor for POI development. Serum vitamin A/TC ratio may serve as a predictive factor for POI incidence. Thus, vitamin A may serve a protective role in ovarian tissue.