The Biological Effects of Vitamin D on the Development of Uterine Fibroids: A Literature Review

Abstract

Uterine Fibroids (UFs), also known as uterine
leiomyomas or myomas, are benign tumors derived
from smooth muscle tissue. Vitamin D deficiency is one
of the many factors involved in the development and
growth of UFs. Many studies have shown that vitamin D
supplementation decreases the size of fibroids despite
a poorly understood pathogenesis. The activity of
vitamin D against UF cells has mainly been supported
by various in vitro and in vivo studies. For this review,
we conducted in-depth research of published literature
on vitamin D's biological and pathophysiological effects
on UFs. We searched on Google Scholar and PubMed
using common keywords and selected 23 studies from
the search results. The literature chosen from the past
ten years was read and analyzed thoroughly. However,
because of the limited research on the effects of vitamin
D on UFs and the different inclusion criteria, the clinical
efficacy of vitamin D on women with UFs remains
unclear. More extensive, well-organized studies on the
specific effects of vitamin D on the growth of UFs would
prove efficacious in establishing treatments.