Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system and hormonal-metabolic profile in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

AIM of the study was to compare serum levels of IGF-1, IGF-2 and insulin‑like growth factor‑binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) among non‑obese and obese PCOS women, and to assess their relationship to metabolic and hormonal parameters.    METHODS: The study included 64 women diagnosed with PCOS (age 28.9 ± 5 years); 30 of them with BMI > 27 and 34 with BMI lower than 27. All subjects were examined for parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism, steroid hormones and serum IGF-1, IGF-2 and IGFBP-3 levels.

No significant differences in serum IGFBP-3 (p=0.534), IGF-1 (p=0.29) and IGF-2 (p=0.56) between two groups have been detected. IGFBP-3 was in positive correlation with total cholesterol (p=0.026), LDL cholesterol (p=0.03) and triacylglycerols (p=0.022). IGF-1 were negatively correlated with insulin (p=0.022), HOMA IR (p=0.033), triacylglycerols (p=0.0196) and waist circumference (p=0.049). A positive correlation was detected between IGF-1 and HDL cholesterol (p=0.025). No significant relationship was observed between IGF-1 and steroid hormones.

Serum levels of IGF-1, IGF-2 and IGFBP-3 in obese PCOS women do not differ from those detected in non‑obese PCOS women. IGF-1 negatively correlated with metabolic parameters, indicating that lower IGF-1 may represent an important predictor of metabolic syndrome (MS) in PCOS women. All peptides seem to have little effect on ovarian steroidogenesis in PCOS (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 30).