Assessment of Menopausal Symptoms Using Menopausal Rating Scale and Their Association with Serum Vitamin D Levels

Abstract Menopause usually occurs around the age of 50, and when women go through menopause they generally experience unpleasant symptoms. Vitamin D is a type of steroid hormone that is required for bone health and the proper balance of calcium and phosphorus in the body. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and menopausal symptoms in women going through menopause using the Menopausal Rating Scale (MRS). The present study was a hospital-based observational cross-sectional study conducted on 200 participants. This study was carried out between 2024 and 2025 on all women between the ages of 40 and 65 who attended the OPD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at B.R.D. Medical College, Gorakhpur. The average age of the research participants was 50.2 ± 6.8 years. Results showed that most of the patients (42%) had vitamin D deficiency (<12 ng/mL). Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) ratings scores were significantly higher in all domains (somatic, psychological, and urogenital) for women with vitamin D deficiency. The ROC analysis revealed that vitamin D predicted severe symptoms (MRS≥26) with an AUC=0.82 (p<0.001) and a cut-off ≤14.3 ng/mL. Patients with deficient vitamin D showed a higher prevalence of menopausal symptoms than those with sufficient levels, which included hot flashes (92.9% vs. 50.0%), sleep disturbances (81.0% vs. 40.9%), joint pain (85.7% vs. 45.5%), and vaginal dryness (75.0% vs. 34.1%). Vitamin D deficiency was also linked to other health problems. Vitamin D deficiency was more common in individuals that were vegetarians, experienced < 30 minutes of sun exposure each day, overweight or obese, and consumed fewer supplements and especially during the monsoon or winter seasons. These results represent the necessity of focused interventions, including dietary changes, vitamin D supplements, and lifestyle modifications, for maintaining ideal vitamin D levels and possibly minimizing the severity of menopausal symptoms.