Background Recently, vitamin D was discovered to have an important role in female reproduction and IVF. However, there were no studies specifically addressed its role in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients undergoing ICSI cycles. Therefore, this cross-sectional study in a university hospital was conducted to evaluate the effect of serum level of vitamin D (VD) on the number of retrieved and fertilized oocytes, and chemical and clinical pregnancy rate in PCOS females undergoing ICSI cycles. The study included 80 PCOS cases undergoing ICSI cycles in the age from 20 to 39 years using antagonist protocol. Cases with severe male or tubal factors were excluded. Serum 25 (OH) D vitamin level was assessed by the ELIZA method on the day of oocyte retrieval. Correlation and regression analyses were used in the analysis. Results VD was positively correlated to both numbers of retrieved and fertilized oocytes (r = 0.35, 95% CI 0.15, 0.53, P = 0.001; r = 0.33; 95% CI 0.03, 0.57, P = 0.03, respectively). It was still significantly correlated to the number of oocytes (coefficient 0.47; 95% CI 0.1, 0.9; P = 0.018) and to the number of fertilized eggs (coefficient 0.3; 95% CI 0.02, 0.58; P = 0.03) after adjusting for age, BMI, and type of ovulation-triggering agent. This means with each 2 ng/mL increase in serum VD level, around one more egg will be retrieved. In addition, there will be one more fertilized oocyte with each 3 ng/mL increase in the vitamin level. However, no significant correlation was found between the vitamin level and the occurrence of chemical or clinical pregnancy. Conclusions Serum vitamin D level is positively correlated with the number of retrieved and fertilized oocytes in PCOS patients undergoing ICSI cycles.

Introduction:There are several theories concerning potential associations between depression and levels of vitamin B12 and folate.Aim of the study:To investigate the relationship between depression and vitamin B12, folate, and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C T polymorphism. To compare this associations, in anxiety and depression.Subjects and methods:90 subjects were randomly selected in a comparative cross sectional study. The sample consists of three groups: a group of depressive disorders without psychotic symptoms (n = 30), a group of anxiety disorders (n = 30) and control group (n = 30). The patients were recruited from psychiatric out- patient clinic. Patients were diagnosed according to DSMIV criteria. Beck depression Inventory for severity of depression, Hamilton rating scale of depression, Hamilton rating scale of anxiety. Laboratory: Simultaneous assay of vitamin B12 and folic acid by Radio-immune assay technique and analysis of MTHFR (C677T) by means of PCR and RFLP.Results:Both anxiety and depression groups has the same percentage of gene mutation (33.3%). Folic acid and Vitamin B 12 mean values were highest in control group followed by the anxiety group then the least was in depression. Within the depression group there is a negative correlation between the severity of depression and folic acid. Within the depression group, patients with mutant gene have lower level of both Folic acid and Vitamin B12 than patients with non mutant gene.Conclusion:Folic acid and Vitamin B12 were lower than normal in both anxiety and depression patients and this was combined with gene mutation.

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