Incretin levels in polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been linked to a high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Disturbances in the secretion of the incretin hormones glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) have been observed in states with impaired glucose regulation. This paper considers the secretion of GIP and GLP-1 after oral glucose load in a group of lean, glucose-tolerant PCOS women in comparison with age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy women.

Case control.

PCOS (n=21, 25.8+/-4.1 years, BMI 21.6+/-1.7 kg/m(2)) and control healthy women (CT, n=13, 28.5+/-7.2 years, BMI 20.3+/-2.5 kg/m(2)) underwent oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with blood sampling for glucose, insulin, C-peptide, total GIP, and active GLP-1. Insulin sensitivity was determined both at fasting and during the test.

Repeated measures ANOVA.

Glucose levels and insulin sensitivity did not differ between PCOS and CT. PCOS had significantly higher levels of C-peptide (P<0.05) and tended to have higher insulin levels. The levels of total GIP were significantly higher in PCOS than in CT (P<0.001). Active GLP-1 levels exhibited a significantly different time-dependent pattern in PCOS (P<0.002 for PCOS versus time interaction). GLP-1 concentrations were similar in PCOS and CT in the early phase of OGTT and then reached significantly lower levels in PCOS than in CT at 180 min (P<0.05).

Increased total GIP and lower late phase active GLP-1 concentrations during OGTT characterize PCOS women with higher C-peptide secretion in comparison with healthy controls, and may be the early markers of a pre-diabetic state.