The Effect of Race/Ethnicity on the Association of Vitamin D Levels and Leiomyomas
Obstetrics & Gynecology 145(6S):p 22S, June 2025. DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005916.074 PDF behind paywall
Moussa, Megan BA; Anasti, James MD
INTRODUCTION:
Low vitamin D levels have been associated with an increased incidence of leiomyoma (LM). However, these findings have been based on small samples, thus making comparison in different ethnicities/races problematic.
METHODS:
We employed a large multi-institutional database (EPIC, COSMOS). Recorded demographics and CPT and ICD-10 coding were used to identify cohorts. Our study population included patients who had vitamin D assayed during the last 10 years. Next, comparison cohorts based on race/ethnicity, presence/absence of LMs, and normal/low vitamin D levels were created. Overall odds ratios (ORs) were calculated based on LMs and vitamin D levels and corrected for multiple measurements.
RESULTS:
In the study period, 3,476,864 females between the ages of 26 and 51 years (71.2% White [W], 16.8% Black [B], 10.3% Hispanic [H], and 5.7% Asian [A]) had vitamin D assessed. More than half (51.7%) had low vitamin D levels with an overall LM incidence of 8.3%.
Blacks were more likely to have LM (OR 3.14, P<.001) and/or a low vitamin D (OR 1.52, P<.001).
Asians had the lowest risk of LM (OR 0.89, P<.001).
There was an increase in LMs in individuals with low vitamin D (OR, W 1.32, B 1.27, A 1.24 [P<.001]).
This relationship was not noted in Hispanics (OR 0.89, P<.001).
CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS:
Low vitamin D levels are widespread. This larger study (3.4 million patients) confirms the association of LM and low vitamin D. The lack of this relationship in patients self-identified as Hispanic has not been previously reported and remains to be answered.