Plasma homocysteine and polycystic ovary syndrome: the missed link
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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Evaluation of Hepatic Glucose Production in a Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Mouse Model
Published on: March 5, 2022
Ahmed Badawy1, Omnia State2, Soma Sh Abd El Gawad3
1Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Mansoura University Hospitals, Mansoura, Egypt.
Objective:
The objective was to investigate the relationship between insulin resistance and increased serum homocysteine in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Design:
Prospective controlled trial.
Setting:
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Mansoura Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura, Egypt.
Patients:
Ninety PCOS women as a study group and 35 women with infertility due to other causes as a control group.
Outcome Measures:
Serum homocysteine levels in the presence and absence of insulin resistance in PCOS patients.
Results:
Homocysteine levels were significantly higher in PCOS patients than in the controls. Considering 11 micromol/l as the cut-off level for a normal homocysteine level, 41.1% of PCOS patients (37 out of 90) and 2.9% of control group (1 out of 35) had high homocysteine levels. With regard to insulin resistance, 23% of PCOS patients without insulin resistance (9 out of 39) had a high homocysteine level, while 47% of PCOS patients with insulin resistance (24 out of 51) had this, thus demonstrating the effect of insulin resistance on the homocysteine level.
Conclusion:
There is a strong association between serum homocysteine and insulin resistance in women with PCOS that contributes to the long-term complications of PCOS.
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