Vitamin D Deficiency in Women

Vitamin D Deficiency in Women

Did you know that women are more likely than men to be vitamin D deficient, and that this one nutrient touches nearly every aspect of women's health - from your bones to your fertility to your pregnancy outcomes?

Today is International Women’s Day so, let’s talk about how to better support women’s health with Vitamin D as it’s involved in various areas of concern, including:

  • Musculoskeletal health (e.g., osteoporosis, arthritis) 
  • Reproductive health (e.g., menopause, fertility, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis)

Vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent in women 

In 2021, the Public Health Agency of Canada released their statistics on common chronic diseases in women compared to men, which showed chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, dementia, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis to be more prevalent in women aged 65 years or older compared to men of the same age group1,2. 

Musculoskeletal disorders are especially prevalent in older women due to the effects of menopause. Menopause is a natural biological part of aging in women, caused by the decline of estrogen and progesterone production by the ovaries, along with an increase of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) - the hormone that signals the ovaries to produce eggs3. The symptoms can vary widely across different individuals, as it can be influenced by genetics, race and ethnicity, lifestyle and environment. However, one huge problem that can arise from menopause is osteoporosis. It is estimated that 47% of women over the age of 50 will experience an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime4 - making the bone health consequences of menopause one of the most urgent health issue women face.

Vitamin D, menopause and osteoporosis

Healthy bones undergo a continuous remodeling process, which involves osteoclasts (cells that dissolve and remove old or damaged bone), and osteoblasts (cells that build and repair bone). This process is regulated by several hormones: parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3 (calcitriol), and estrogen5. Vitamin D3 is crucial for calcium absorption, while estrogen promotes the differentiation of pre-osteoblasts to osteoblasts, which is needed for bone formation6. 

Since both vitamin D and estrogen play key roles in maintaining bone health, it’s no surprise that many women -  especially those nearing or past menopause - face a higher risk of osteoporosis when their vitamin D levels and estrogen decline7. Alongside osteoporosis, osteoarthritis often occurs as a result, producing “pain, stiffness and reduced movement of the affected joint” from the breakdown of the cartilage found at the ends of the bones.8

Fertility, PCOS and hormonal health

Vitamin D receptors and enzymes involved in the metabolism of vitamin D are also present throughout female reproductive tissues including the ovaries, placenta, fallopian tubes, and endometrium (the lining of the uterus), suggesting that vitamin D influences overall reproductive health and even in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome9,10. 

In the case of fertility and pregnancy, it is important to note that male factors such as semen quality and androgen levels (male sex hormones) are a big determinant for underlying issues10. However, patterns of Vitamin D-deficiency have been associated with higher risk of infertility, premature ovarian failure, PCOS and even insulin resistance11.

Pregnancy outcomes and increased vitamin D needs

Additionally, observational studies have shown that low serum (blood) levels of Vitamin D are also associated with adverse neonatal and pregnancy outcomes such as pre-clampsia (a serious condition involving high blood pressure during pregnancy)12. Vitamin D requirements also increase during pregnancy as more is needed to be transferred to the fetus12. Therefore, it is especially important to ensure adequate vitamin D levels during pregnancy. 

Supplementation 

Female reproductive health is a complex and multifactorial system influenced by genetics, lifestyle, nutrition, and environmental factors - all of which continue to be active areas of research. Emerging evidence suggests that vitamin D plays an important role in women's reproductive health, with studies increasingly pointing to a connection between vitamin D status and various reproductive outcomes. Notably, genetic variants can also significantly influence individual vitamin D status and response to supplementation.¹⁴

When is supplementation most important?

While vitamin D supplementation is often emphasized during two key life stages:

  • Pregnancy - requirements increase as vitamin D needs to be transferred to the fetus
  • The menopausal transition - when both estrogen and vitamin D levels decline, raising osteoporosis risk

...maintaining adequate levels through routine daily intake may also support overall reproductive health as a preventive measure, particularly given the high prevalence of deficiency in women of reproductive age.

Why pair Vitamin D3 with K2?

When it comes to vitamin D supplementation, consider pairing it with vitamin K2 (menaquinone - a form of vitamin K) as it helps transport and deposit calcium into the bone matrix where it belongs, preventing hypercalcemia (dangerously high calcium levels in the blood).¹³ Vitamin K helps by directing calcium to the bones and teeth and not the tissues and organs.

The good news? Understanding your vitamin D status is easier than ever.

To get a clear understanding of your vitamin D levels - Test, don't guess! ImmunoCeutica's at-home dried blood test and Point-of-Care system allows you to quickly get your results with specification of your blood concentration, along with a personalized report. As most Canadians are vitamin D deficient, pair your test kit with ImmunoDrops Vitamin D3 + K2 to reach optimal levels.

To all women - this International Women's Day, the best thing you can do for your health is know your numbers. Test, don't guess.  Happy International Women's Day.


Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you have medical conditions or take medications.

 

References

  1. Public Health Agency of Canada. (2021). Common chronic diseases in women compared to men. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/common-chronic-diseases-women-compared-men-aged-65-years-older.html
  2. Alswat, Khaled A. (2017). Gender Disparities in Osteoporosis. Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, 9(5), 382–387. https://doi.org/10.14740/jocmr2970w
  3. National Institute on Aging. (2024). What is Menopause? https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/menopause/what-menopause
  4. Bohon, T. M., & Goolsby, M. A. (2013). The Role of Vitamin D Supplements in Women’s Health. Clinical Medicine Insights. Women’s Health, 6, 67–70. https://doi.org/10.4137/CMWH.S11067
  5. Ji, M., & Yu, Q. (2015). Primary osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Chronic Diseases and Translational Medicine, 1(1), 9–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdtm.2015.02.006
  6. Cheng, C.-H., Chen, L.-R., & Chen, K.-H. (2022). Osteoporosis Due to Hormone Imbalance: An Overview of the Effects of Estrogen Deficiency and Glucocorticoid Overuse on Bone Turnover. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(3), 1376. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031376
  7. Gaugris, S., Heaney, R. P., Boonen, S., Kurth, H., Bentkover, J. D., & Sen, S. S. (2005). Vitamin D inadequacy among post-menopausal women: A systematic review. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 98(9), 667–676. https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hci096
  8. Osteoporosis Canada. (n.d.). Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis. https://osteoporosis.ca/osteoporosis-and-osteoarthritis/
  9. Muscogiuri, G., Altieri, B., De Angelis, C., Palomba, S., Pivonello, R., Colao, A., & Orio, F. (2017). Shedding new light on female fertility: The role of vitamin D. Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders, 18(3), 273–283. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-017-9407-2
  10. Lerchbaum, E., & Obermayer-Pietsch, B. (2012). MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Vitamin D and fertility: a systematic review. European Journal of Endocrinology, 166(5), 765–778. https://doi.org/10.1530/EJE-11-0984
  11. Grzechocinska, B., Dabrowski, F. A., Cyganek, A., & Wielgos, M. (2013). The role of vitamin D in impaired fertility treatment. Neuro Endocrinology Letters, 34(8), 756–762.
  12. Pilz, S., Zittermann, A., Obeid, R., Hahn, A., Pludowski, P., Trummer, C., Lerchbaum, E., Pérez-López, F. R., Karras, S. N., & März, W. (2018). The Role of Vitamin D in Fertility and during Pregnancy and Lactation: A Review of Clinical Data. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(10), 2241. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15102241
  13. Khalil, Z., Alam, B., Akbari, A. R., & Sharma, H. (2021). The Medical Benefits of Vitamin K2 on Calcium-Related Disorders. Nutrients, 13(2), 691. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13020691
  14. Karrow, N.A., Leuschner, S.E., Shandilya, U.K., Mallard, B.A., Wagter-Lesperance, L. & Bridle, B.W. (2025). Genetic Variants Influencing Individual Vitamin D Status. Nutrients, 17(16), 2673. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17162673

Reviewed by Bonnie A. Mallard, Ph.D., Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph & ImmunoCeutica Inc.

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