Metabolic disturbances in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

The AIM of the study was to characterize the metabolic syndrome in lean and overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The study included 142 premenopausal women distributed into 2 subgroups according to the body mass index: Group 1 with normal weight (n = 39) and Group 2 with overweight (n = 103). The following parameters were measured: basal and oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT)-induced glucose, insulin and triglycerides (TG1), glycated hemoglobin, total, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol; HOMA index and 2 indices of atherogenic risk (total/HDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index) were calculated. The results were compared with those of 35 clinically healthy women allocated also to 2 subgroups: Group 3 with normal weight (n = 18) and Group 4 with overweight (n = 17). Group 1 differed from group 3 in significantly higher fasting, 120-minute insulin, 180-minute insulin during the oGTT, fasting and stimulated TG1, and atherogenic index. Group 2 did not differ from group 4 in the lipid parameters, but 60-minute, and 120-minute glucose, the area under the curve (AUC) of glucose, and stimulated insulin were significantly higher at similar levels of fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index and glucose-to-insulin ratio. Fasting glucose did not differ between the two subgroups of PCOS women, but 60-minute, and 120-minute glucose, AUC glu, fasting, 60-minute, and 180-minute insulin, AUC ins and HOMA index were significantly higher in group 2 where the lipid parameters were significantly unfavourable. Our data confirmed the presence of insulin resistance of various degree and an increased lipid atherogenic risk in PCOS while obesity appeared as an additional factor aggravating the metabolic disturbances.