EVALUATION OF VITAMIN D STATUS IN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE WITH AUTOIMMUNE THYROIDITIS AND JUSTIFICATION OF CHITOSAN-BASED THERAPEUTIC CORRECTION

Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) in women of reproductive age is often associated with vitamin D deficiency, which may aggravate autoimmune thyroid dysfunction. Fifty women aged 15–49 years with AIT were examined. Vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was detected in 68%, insufficiency (20–30 ng/mL) in 22%, and normal levels (>30 ng/mL) in 10%. Deficient patients showed higher TSH and anti-TPO levels compared to those with sufficient vitamin D. A subgroup treated with vitamin D and chitosan demonstrated greater improvement: 25(OH)D normalization in 82%, TSH reduction in 61%, and ≥25% decrease of anti-TPO in 47%, compared to 29%, 38%, and 19% in the vitamin-D-only group. These results indicate that vitamin D deficiency is common in reproductive-age women with AIT and that adding chitosan may enhance therapeutic response.