Analysis of Vitamin D and VDR Expression in Women with Advanced Endometriosis: A Case–Control Study in Thailand

<b>Background:</b> Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that may influence the pathophysiology of endometriosis. This study investigated the association between vitamin D levels and endometriosis, and vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression in endometriotic tissue....

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Main Authors: Vitet Layanun, Woraluk Somboonporn, Pinya Aupongkaroon, Pilaiwan Kleebkaow, Nipon Chaisuriya, Naree Pluthikarmpae
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1605
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author Vitet Layanun
Woraluk Somboonporn
Pinya Aupongkaroon
Pilaiwan Kleebkaow
Nipon Chaisuriya
Naree Pluthikarmpae
author_facet Vitet Layanun
Woraluk Somboonporn
Pinya Aupongkaroon
Pilaiwan Kleebkaow
Nipon Chaisuriya
Naree Pluthikarmpae
author_sort Vitet Layanun
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that may influence the pathophysiology of endometriosis. This study investigated the association between vitamin D levels and endometriosis, and vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression in endometriotic tissue. <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 36 patients with endometriosis and 72 healthy control women, matched for age and BMI. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured and categorized into four statuses (normal, insufficiency, deficiency, and severe deficiency). Endometriotic tissue samples were examined for VDR expression using immunohistochemistry and qualitatively quantified using histo-scores (H-scores). Endometriosis severity was assessed using the revised criteria of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (rASRM). <b>Results:</b> No statistically significant difference in vitamin D levels between the groups (20.45 vs. 21.10 ng/dL, <i>p</i> = 0.190) was observed, even after adjusting for residence, body sunscreen use, pregnancy, and contraceptive use. VDR expression exhibited significantly higher H-scores in endometriotic epithelial cells than in stromal cells (209.51 vs. 73.32; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Additionally, the VDR H-score in both cell compartments showed no significant difference according to vitamin D status. No statistically significant association was found between vitamin D levels, VDR expression, or disease severity. The odds of severe endometriosis were 2.17 (95% CI: 0.14–33.80) for vitamin D insufficiency and 4.33 (95% CI: 0.24–115.67) for deficiency compared with normal vitamin D. <b>Conclusions:</b> There was no statistically significant association between vitamin D levels and endometriosis and VDR.
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spelling doaj-art-79c04dd83bad49528587608bf5d362ee2025-08-20T03:36:31ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-06-01137160510.3390/biomedicines13071605Analysis of Vitamin D and VDR Expression in Women with Advanced Endometriosis: A Case–Control Study in ThailandVitet Layanun0Woraluk Somboonporn1Pinya Aupongkaroon2Pilaiwan Kleebkaow3Nipon Chaisuriya4Naree Pluthikarmpae5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, ThailandDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, ThailandDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, ThailandDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, ThailandDepartment of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, ThailandDepartment of Pathology, Suranaree University of Technology Hospital, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand<b>Background:</b> Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that may influence the pathophysiology of endometriosis. This study investigated the association between vitamin D levels and endometriosis, and vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression in endometriotic tissue. <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 36 patients with endometriosis and 72 healthy control women, matched for age and BMI. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured and categorized into four statuses (normal, insufficiency, deficiency, and severe deficiency). Endometriotic tissue samples were examined for VDR expression using immunohistochemistry and qualitatively quantified using histo-scores (H-scores). Endometriosis severity was assessed using the revised criteria of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (rASRM). <b>Results:</b> No statistically significant difference in vitamin D levels between the groups (20.45 vs. 21.10 ng/dL, <i>p</i> = 0.190) was observed, even after adjusting for residence, body sunscreen use, pregnancy, and contraceptive use. VDR expression exhibited significantly higher H-scores in endometriotic epithelial cells than in stromal cells (209.51 vs. 73.32; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Additionally, the VDR H-score in both cell compartments showed no significant difference according to vitamin D status. No statistically significant association was found between vitamin D levels, VDR expression, or disease severity. The odds of severe endometriosis were 2.17 (95% CI: 0.14–33.80) for vitamin D insufficiency and 4.33 (95% CI: 0.24–115.67) for deficiency compared with normal vitamin D. <b>Conclusions:</b> There was no statistically significant association between vitamin D levels and endometriosis and VDR.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1605vitamin Dendometriosisvitamin D receptorimmunohistochemistryH-score
spellingShingle Vitet Layanun
Woraluk Somboonporn
Pinya Aupongkaroon
Pilaiwan Kleebkaow
Nipon Chaisuriya
Naree Pluthikarmpae
Analysis of Vitamin D and VDR Expression in Women with Advanced Endometriosis: A Case–Control Study in Thailand
Biomedicines
vitamin D
endometriosis
vitamin D receptor
immunohistochemistry
H-score
title Analysis of Vitamin D and VDR Expression in Women with Advanced Endometriosis: A Case–Control Study in Thailand
title_full Analysis of Vitamin D and VDR Expression in Women with Advanced Endometriosis: A Case–Control Study in Thailand
title_fullStr Analysis of Vitamin D and VDR Expression in Women with Advanced Endometriosis: A Case–Control Study in Thailand
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of Vitamin D and VDR Expression in Women with Advanced Endometriosis: A Case–Control Study in Thailand
title_short Analysis of Vitamin D and VDR Expression in Women with Advanced Endometriosis: A Case–Control Study in Thailand
title_sort analysis of vitamin d and vdr expression in women with advanced endometriosis a case control study in thailand
topic vitamin D
endometriosis
vitamin D receptor
immunohistochemistry
H-score
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1605
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AT pinyaaupongkaroon analysisofvitamindandvdrexpressioninwomenwithadvancedendometriosisacasecontrolstudyinthailand
AT pilaiwankleebkaow analysisofvitamindandvdrexpressioninwomenwithadvancedendometriosisacasecontrolstudyinthailand
AT niponchaisuriya analysisofvitamindandvdrexpressioninwomenwithadvancedendometriosisacasecontrolstudyinthailand
AT nareepluthikarmpae analysisofvitamindandvdrexpressioninwomenwithadvancedendometriosisacasecontrolstudyinthailand