Polycystic ovary syndrome: obesity, insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism

The authors submitted 24 patients affected by polycystic ovary syndrome to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and determined glucose, insulin and C Peptide levels. Patients were divided in four groups according to the degree of obesity and androgenic blood levels. Eight non hirsute women with normal ovulatory function, matched for height and weight, served as controls. The authors pointed out that insulin levels were greater in the obese and hyperandrogenic PCO women than in only the obese PCO women or only the hyperandrogenic PCO women. Obese patients with PCO had higher insulin levels than obese control group. Patients with PCO nonobese and nonhyperandrogenic had higher insulin levels than nonobese control group. Insulin levels did not differ in obese PCO and hyperandrogenic PCO women. These findings suggest that at least a component of insulin resistance which is found in PCO women is independent from body weight.