Variations in Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) and Vitamin D Levels in Patients Seeking Treatment for Infertility in Abidjan
TL;DR
A significant negative correlation between AMH levels and age was observed; AMH levels decreased with age; vitamin D had no effect on AMH levels in this population of infertile women.
Abstract
Background: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), produced by granulosa cells, is a key biomarker of ovarian follicular development and female fertility. In hormonal physiology, vitamin D is thought to play a role in biological processes crucial to fertility by helping to regulate genes involved in AMH production. Inadequate vitamin D levels may therefore have a negative impact on ovarian reserve. Aim: This study evaluated the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations and AMH levels among women seeking infertility treatment in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study that recruited 100 infertile women, aged 21 to 50 years, between June 2023 and September 2024. These patients were seeking treatment because they wished to become mothers and had given their consent to participate in the study. Serum levels of vitamin D [25(OH)D] and AMH were measured using the ELFA (Enzyme-Linked Fluorescent Assay) immunoenzymatic method on the BIOMERIEUX® Vidas PC® automated analyser, and the correlation between vitamin D status and AMH levels was determined. Results: The median vitamin D level was 22.8 ng/ml (8.1–44.4). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (levels < 30 ng/mL) was 82%. The median AMH level was 1.25 ng/mL (0.01–20.05). There was a strong negative correlation between age and AMH levels (Pearson r = −0.356 (95% CI −0.516 to 0.171), p < 0.001 and Spearman’s ρ = −0.605, p < 0.001) (rho ≈ −0.484, p < 0.001); but no statistically significant relationship was observed between vitamin D and AMH (Pearson r = 0.005 (95% CI -0.192 to 0.201), p = 0.962, and Spearman ρ = 0.050, p = 0.619). Patients with PCOS had a very high median AMH level (10.65 ng/mL) compared to patients without PCOS (1.21 ng/mL); however, there were no differences in age or vitamin D status between these two groups. Conclusion: We observed a significant negative correlation between AMH levels and age; AMH levels decreased with age. This association persisted after adjusting for vitamin D status and the presence of PCOS. No significant association was found between vitamin D levels and AMH concentrations in infertile women; vitamin D had no effect on AMH levels in this population.