Acute effects of plasma from women with PCOS treated with whey protein on vitamin D metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a reproductive disorder often associated with vitamin D (VD) deficiency, obesity, and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). While nutritional treatments for PCOS are limited, VD supplementation increases insulin secretion and improves glycemic control. Whey protein isolate (WPI) supplementation increases insulin secretion and lowers glucose in individuals with T2DM. Mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes were exposed to plasma from women with and without PCOS who consumed WPI for 7 days. Adipocytes were then exposed to 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25VD) and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25VD) to determine the interaction of plasma from women consuming WPI and vitamin D3 on the genetic expression of 25-hydroxylase (CYP2R1) and 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1). This study found no effect of plasma or forms of VD on CYP2R1 expression; however, 1,25VD increased the CYP24A1 expression. Overall, neither plasma nor forms of VD seem to change VD metabolism gene expression under normal or PCOS-like conditions.