Infertility, FemaleEarly Phase 1NCT03989778
Vitamin D and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
A Early Phase 1 study testing Vitamin D in people with Infertility, Female and Infertility, run by Aga Khan University at 2 sites in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Primary Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of metformin and Vitamin D supplementation on serum insulin and serum androgen levels (Total testosterone, Steroid Hormone Binding Globulin, Free Androgen Index) levels compared metformin alone in infertile Poly cystic ovarian females of reproductive age group. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 36 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Infertility, Female, Infertility, Vitamin D Deficiency
- What is being tested?
- Vitamin D
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 84 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesPakistan
- Study dates
- 1 Feb 2023to 15 Oct 2026
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 36 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Females with age range 18- 36 years, from all ethnic background having primary infertility with diagnosis of PCOS when at least 2 of these 3 elements are present: hyperandrogenism, chronic anovulation and polycystic ovaries and Vitamin D deficiency serum levels < 25 nmol/L
Who cannot join
- exclusion criteria at baseline will be excluded from the study
- Females with secondary Infertility
- Hypercalcemia (plasma calcium concentrations> 2.65 mmol/L)
- Exclude women with Tuberculosis or other granulomatous disorders.
- Women receiving vitamin D replacement, oral contraceptives, hormonal replacement therapy, glucocorticoids, calcium supplementation, insulin-sensitizing drugs(incretin mimetic drugs, thiazolidinedione, sulfonylurea), lipid-lowering drugs or other drugs affecting insulin sensitivity or serum androgens (e.g., niacin, corticosteroids, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, thiazide diuretics), anti-epileptics, anti-retroviral, cholestyramine, anti-fungal, statins, H2 blockers, immunosuppressants, chemotherapeutic agents, antimicrobials (Rifampicin, isoniazid, hydroqychloroquin) or any other drug modifying lipid metabolism in the previous 3 months prior to study
- Women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing's syndrome, androgen-secreting tumors, type 2 diabetes mellitus, renal, hepatic or thyroid disorders, hyperparathyroidism, malabsorption syndromes, Chronic Kidney Disease Hepatic failure, cystic fibrosis, vaginal bleeding of unknown etiology Women Those who had Bariatric surgery will also be excluded.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
Pakistan2 sites
Dr Rehana Rehman
Karachi, Sindh, 74800
Dr Rehana Rehman
Karachi, Sindh, 75500
About this study
Official title: Efficacy of Vitamin D Supplementation and Metformin Compared to Metformin Alone for Improvement in Follicle Size of Infertile Females With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Randomized Open Label Trial
Primary Objectives:
To evaluate the efficacy of metformin and Vitamin D supplementation on serum insulin and serum androgen levels (Total testosterone, Steroid Hormone Binding Globulin, Free Androgen Index) levels compared metformin alone in infertile Poly cystic ovarian females of reproductive age group.
Secondary Objectives:
To measure change in endometrial thickness/number of follicles and follicular size by day 12 trans-vaginal ultrasound in the intervention group i.e. combination of metformin and vitamin D supplementation
Read the detailed description
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as defined by "the presence of any two out of three criteria i.e. Oligo and/or anovulation, excess androgen activity and/or polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasound", is a prevalent cause of female infertility. In the endocrine milieu of PCOS higher levels of insulin due to insulin resistance (IR) exert direct effects on the ovaries, release insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) from the liver and both then increase levels of testosterone. The resultant prevents the growth of ovarian follicles to acquire the required dimension for ovulation (i.e. > 10 mm) hence leading to anovulation and therefore subfertility. Vitamin D (VD) has found to be predominantly deficient in PCOS females, documented to cause IR giving rise to anovulatory cycles, hyperandrogenism and other significant features of PCOS. Therefore, we have hypothesized that treatment with VD in PCOS females can reduce IR, improve ovulation and signs of hyperandrogenism. Since Metformin is frequently prescribed for reducing IR and hence the treatment for anovulatory infertility in these females, we have planned to conduct an open label randomized control trial in PCOS infertile females who have vitamin D levels < than 25 ng/ml and are receiving Metformin therapy after ethical approval from Aga Khan University. The intervention group will receive VD Cholecalciferol (D2) 50,000 I.U once weekly for 12 weeks, followed by 50,000 I.U once every fortnight for 24 weeks with the Metformin treatment as prescribed by the physician whereas control group will receive Metformin treatment during the study period. We will compare change in number of dominant follicles (more than 10 mm) / endometrial thickness in both groups by Day 12 trans-vaginal ultrasound at the time of enrollment with scans done after 12 and 24 weeks. The other biochemical parameters [Total Testosterone, Steroid Hormone Binding Globulin, Free Androgen Index, Lipid Accumulation Product, Serum Insulin, Serum Triglycerides, Serum Calcium and Albumin] will be done at the time of recruitment in both the intervention and control groups and compared.
- Conditions
- Infertility, Female, Infertility, Vitamin D Deficiency
- Being tested
- Vitamin D
- Medical subject headings
- Infertility, Female, Infertility, Vitamin D Deficiency
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Vitamin DDrug
Also called Metformin
Vitamin D supplementation
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D supplement | Experimental | The intervention group will receive VD Cholecalciferol (D2) 50,000 I.U once weekly for 12 weeks, followed by 50,000 I.U once every fortnight for 24 weeks with the Metformin treatment as prescribed by the physician whereas Receives: Drug: Vitamin D |
| Control | No intervention | control group will receive Metformin treatment during the study period. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
• Insulin levels
Decrease in insulin levels 60%
Measured: 24 weeks
• serum androgen levels
Decrease in Serum Androgen levels
Measured: 24 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Endometrial thickness
increase in endometrial thickness to 2mm
Measured: 24 weeks
Lipid Accumulation Product
reduction in lipid accumulation product
Measured: 24 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Jun 2019
- Study start1 Feb 2023
- Primary completion10 Oct 2026
- Study completion15 Oct 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Infertility, FemaleStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Infertile females with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 84 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Aga Khan University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Rehana Rehman, Aga Khan University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03989778
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 124
- Status last verified
- Feb 2025
- First submitted
- 13 Jun 2019
- Last updated
- 29 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Efficacy of Vitamin D Supplementation and Metformin Compared to Metformin Alone for Improvement in Follicle Size of Infertile Females With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Randomized Open Label Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03989778
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 124
- Conditions
- Infertility, Female, Infertility, Vitamin D Deficiency
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 84 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Aga Khan UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Feb 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Oct 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 18 Jun 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Primary Objectives:
To evaluate the efficacy of metformin and Vitamin D supplementation on serum insulin and serum androgen levels (Total testosterone, Steroid Hormone Binding Globulin, Free Androgen Index) levels compared metformin alone in infertile Poly cystic ovarian females of reproductive age group.
Secondary Objectives:
To measure change in endometrial thickness/number of follicles and follicular size by day 12 trans-vaginal ultrasound in the intervention group i.e. combination of metformin and vitamin D supplementation
Detailed description
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as defined by "the presence of any two out of three criteria i.e. Oligo and/or anovulation, excess androgen activity and/or polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasound", is a prevalent cause of female infertility. In the endocrine milieu of PCOS higher levels of insulin due to insulin resistance (IR) exert direct effects on the ovaries, release insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) from the liver and both then increase levels of testosterone. The resultant prevents the growth of ovarian follicles to acquire the required dimension for ovulation (i.e. > 10 mm) hence leading to anovulation and therefore subfertility. Vitamin D (VD) has found to be predominantly deficient in PCOS females, documented to cause IR giving rise to anovulatory cycles, hyperandrogenism and other significant features of PCOS. Therefore, we have hypothesized that treatment with VD in PCOS females can reduce IR, improve ovulation and signs of hyperandrogenism. Since Metformin is frequently prescribed for reducing IR and hence the treatment for anovulatory infertility in these females, we have planned to conduct an open label randomized control trial in PCOS infertile females who have vitamin D levels < than 25 ng/ml and are receiving Metformin therapy after ethical approval from Aga Khan University. The intervention group will receive VD Cholecalciferol (D2) 50,000 I.U once weekly for 12 weeks, followed by 50,000 I.U once every fortnight for 24 weeks with the Metformin treatment as prescribed by the physician whereas control group will receive Metformin treatment during the study period. We will compare change in number of dominant follicles (more than 10 mm) / endometrial thickness in both groups by Day 12 trans-vaginal ultrasound at the time of enrollment with scans done after 12 and 24 weeks. The other biochemical parameters [Total Testosterone, Steroid Hormone Binding Globulin, Free Androgen Index, Lipid Accumulation Product, Serum Insulin, Serum Triglycerides, Serum Calcium and Albumin] will be done at the time of recruitment in both the intervention and control groups and compared.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Infertile females with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D supplement | Experimental | Drug: Vitamin DThe intervention group will receive VD Cholecalciferol (D2) 50,000 I.U once weekly for 12 weeks, followed by 50,000 I.U once every fortnight for 24 weeks with the Metformin treatment as prescribed by the physician whereas |
| Control | No intervention | –control group will receive Metformin treatment during the study period. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 36 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Females with age range 18- 36 years, from all ethnic background having primary infertility with diagnosis of PCOS when at least 2 of these 3 elements are present: hyperandrogenism, chronic anovulation and polycystic ovaries and Vitamin D deficiency serum levels < 25 nmol/L
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- exclusion criteria at baseline will be excluded from the study
- Females with secondary Infertility
- Hypercalcemia (plasma calcium concentrations> 2.65 mmol/L)
- Exclude women with Tuberculosis or other granulomatous disorders.
- Women receiving vitamin D replacement, oral contraceptives, hormonal replacement therapy, glucocorticoids, calcium supplementation, insulin-sensitizing drugs(incretin mimetic drugs, thiazolidinedione, sulfonylurea), lipid-lowering drugs or other drugs affecting insulin sensitivity or serum androgens (e.g., niacin, corticosteroids, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, thiazide diuretics), anti-epileptics, anti-retroviral, cholestyramine, anti-fungal, statins, H2 blockers, immunosuppressants, chemotherapeutic agents, antimicrobials (Rifampicin, isoniazid, hydroqychloroquin) or any other drug modifying lipid metabolism in the previous 3 months prior to study
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin DAlso: MetforminVitamin D supplementation | Drug | Vitamin D supplement |
Primary outcome
• Insulin levels
Time frame: 24 weeks
Decrease in insulin levels 60%
• serum androgen levels
Time frame: 24 weeks
Decrease in Serum Androgen levels
2 secondary outcomes
Endometrial thickness
Time frame: 24 weeks
Lipid Accumulation Product
Time frame: 24 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Infertility, Female
Recruiting
Endometriosis Transcriptomic Cell Atlas
Endometriosis, Infertility
RecruitingPhase 1
Efficacy of Injectable Vitamin D Supplementation in Females With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Anovulatory Infertility
RecruitingPhase 2
A Study to Investigate Mibavademab in Adult Women With Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea
Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea, FHA
Not yet recruitingPhase 2
PRECISION-E2: Teverelix in Women With Endometriosis - Pharmacodynamics, Safety and Precision Medicine Correlates
Endometriosis Pelvic, Endometriosis Ovaries
Recruiting
Clinical Impact of Uterine Repair During Cesarean Section With Barbed Suture on the Incidence of Isthmocele
Isthmocele, Cesarean Scar Defect
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Early Phase 1 study testing Vitamin D in people with Infertility, Female and Infertility, run by Aga Khan University at 2 sites in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Early Phase 1 (sometimes called Phase 0) studies give a very small amount of a treatment to a few people, mainly to see how the body handles it.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
• Insulin levels (time frame: 24 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Oct 2026.