Vitamin D Analog for Uterine Prolapse

This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-post design that analyzes the effect of Vitamin D analog supplementation in women with uterine prolapse. We included all postmenopausal women diagnosed with grade III and IV uterine prolapse who came to outpatient clinic of Dr. Hasan Sadikin Bandung from August 2021 to November 2021. Uterine prolapse diagnosis and staging were based on Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system. Exclusion criteria were as follows:

Patients with comorbidities, such as chronic cough and chronic constipation (these symptoms last for a minimum of 8 weeks).

Patients diagnosed with diseases related to Vitamin D metabolism disorders such as: diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney failure, or malignant diseases

Those who had a history of gastrectomy or jejunoileostomy surgery.

Patients who are currently or have a history of taking cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins and fibrates), anticonvulsants, thiazides, theophylline, orlistat, cimetidine, and Vitamin D supplementation one month prior to this study.

Patients withdrawing from our research.

During the initial presentation, we collected the following data: age, parity, body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin levels, and calcium levels. All subjects were then given 0.5 mcg of Vitamin D analog supplementation for 3 months. We also collected and compared the following data before and after Vitamin D analog supplementation: (1) Vitamin D and VDR serum levels, (2) Levator ani muscle strength, and (3) Hand grip muscle strength. Levator ani muscle strength was measured using perineometer, while handgrip muscle strength was evaluated using hand grip dynamometer.
We tabulated all patients' data on a customized spreadsheet and performed data analysis on Statistical Produce and Service Solutions SPSS software version 25 for Windows (IBM Corp, Armonk, New York, USA). Descriptive statistics were performed as appropriate. Analytical statistics were performed using t test or Wilcoxon test as required, with p < 0.05 considered as significant.
Written informed consent was provided to all study participants prior to engaging in any study-related procedures. Ethical approval of this study was granted by the Health Research Ethics Committee of Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung under the following registration number: LB.02.01/X.6.5/213/2021. This study was conducted according to Declaration of Helsinki. All research procedures were performed in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.