Association of metabolic syndrome in polycystic ovarian syndrome: an observational study

Objectives

To find out the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MBS) in women with PCOS and assess their strength of association. Methods: Total 50 apparently healthy non-pregnant PCOS subjects of 15 to 35 years were studied for having the features of MBS from May 2006 to April 2007. MBS was diagnosed by National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III 2001 criteria. Student’s t test & Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis.

Results

21 subjects out of 50 (42%) met criteria for the MBS. 15(71.5%) belonged to 26–35 years and six (20.7%) in 15–25 years. Prevalence of waist circumference > 88 cm were noted in 34%, HDL cholesterol< 50 mg/dl in 50%, triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dl in 40%, BP ≥130/85 mm Hg in 50% and FBS≥ 110 mg/dl in 16%. Women with higher insulin resistance and free testosterone levels significantly (P<0.01) correlated with higher prevalence of MBS.

Conclusion

The metabolic syndrome and its individual components are common in PCOS, particularly among women with hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenism.     

Hyperandrogenemia influences the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome abnormalities in adolescents with the polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective.?The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MBS) abnormalities in Italian adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was evaluated.

Design.?Retrospective chart review.

Setting.?University outpatient clinic.

Participants.?Fifty-three adolescents with PCOS.

Interventions.?Subjects underwent a physical evaluation. Fasting blood samples were taken for the evaluation of metabolic parameters.

Main outcome measures.?The prevalence of MBS abnormalities according to de Ferranti criteria was assessed.

Results.?9.4% of adolescents with PCOS had the MBS (three abnormalities). Twelve girls (22.7%) had two abnormalities. Seventeen (32.1%) of PCOS girls have no MBS abnormalities. PCOS adolescents with the MBS were more obese, insulin resistant and they had significantly higher levels of total and free testosterone. The number of metabolic abnormalities correlated with free, total testosterone, free androgen index (FAI) and body mass index (BMI). Groups with two or three abnormalities were not differentiated by BMI, insulin, lipids, blood pressure, but they were differentiated by total and free testosterone and FAI. Adolescents with the MBS have higher total and free testosterone and FAI than girls with two MBS abnormalities.

Conclusions.?The MBS and its components are present in some adolescents with PCOS, placing them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease early in adulthood. Hyperandrogenemia is a risk factor for MBS independent of obesity.     

Metformin versus flutamide in the treatment of metabolic consequences of non-obese young women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized prospective study.

In addition to the reproductive consequences, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by a metabolic disorder in which hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are central features. The effects and possible benefits from insulin-sensitizing drugs are not well known, especially in non-obese women with PCOS. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of metformin and flutamide on metabolic parameters and insulin resistance in non-obese women with PCOS. Thirty non-obese women newly diagnosed with PCOS and 15 age- and weight-matched healthy volunteers as controls were included in the study. Patients were assigned randomly to receive flutamide 250 mg daily or metformin 850 mg three times daily. Glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, androgen levels and glucose and insulin responses to an oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were assessed before and after a 4-week therapy period. A positive correlation was found between body mass index and insulin level in patients with PCOS and controls. Follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, free testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels decreased significantly, but insulin resistance levels were not changed after flutamide therapy. Body weight, free testosterone, insulin and insulin resistance levels decreased significantly after metformin therapy. In conclusion, metformin treatment improved insulin sensitivity and decreased androgen levels, and flutamide decreased androgen levels but failed to improve insulin sensitivity in the non-obese women with PCOS.     

Relationship of the metabolic syndrome and obesity to polycystic ovary syndrome: a controlled, population-based study

OBJECTIVE: Although hyperinsulinemia seems to be an essential feature of polycystic ovary syndrome, the frequency of gynecologic disorders related to polycystic ovary syndrome at a population level in women with evident metabolic syndrome is not known. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based study. Participants (N = 204) were recruited from a random sample of women in 5 age groups (range, 35-54 years) living in a defined area. Metabolic syndrome was considered to be present if 3 of the following 8 criteria were fulfilled: (1) first-degree relative with type II diabetes, (2) body mass index > or = 30 kg/m2, (3) waist/hip ratio > or = 0.88, (4) blood pressure > or = 160/95 mm Hg or drug treatment for hypertension, (5) fasting serum triglyceride level > or = 1.70 mmol/L, (6) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol value < 1.20 mmol/L, (7) abnormal glucose metabolism, and (8) fasting insulin value > or = 13.0 mU/L. The frequency of metabolic syndrome was 106 (19.5%) of 543 cases. The control group consisted of 62 overweight women without central obesity or metabolic syndrome and 53 healthy lean women (body mass index < 27 kg/m2. RESULTS: The group with metabolic syndrome differed from the other women according to most of the selection criteria and also had the highest free testosterone concentration. However, there were no differences between the groups regarding parity, infertility problems, or obstetric outcome. However, oligomenorrhea appeared to be more common in women with metabolic syndrome, especially in those with more severe symptoms (46.2%), than in obese (25.4%) and lean (15.1%) control subjects. Polycystic-like ovaries were detected by vaginal ultrasonography with similar frequency (13.1%, 15.3%, and 13.2% in women with metabolic syndrome, obese women, and lean women, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Surprisingly few women with metabolic syndrome had symptoms suggestive of polycystic ovary syndrome, in comparison with obese and lean women. Our results suggest that at the population level polycystic ovary syndrome only accounts for a distinct subgroup of a much wider problem, metabolic syndrome.     

糖耐量异常的晚期妊娠妇女胰岛素分泌与胰岛素抵抗的研究

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether insulin secretion and resistance are different in glucose tolerant and intolerant women with normal pre-pregnant body mass index (BMI) during late pregnancy and to find out if there is association between gestational diabetes and insulin resistance syndrome. METHODS: On the basis of a 4-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), 32 gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients, 21 gestational impaired glucose tolerant (GIGT) patients, and 50 normal glucose tolerant (NGT) cases were selected from uncomplicated pregnant women. Those had normal pre-pregnant BMI who had a 1-hour 50-g glucose-screening test (> or = 7.2 mmol/L), performed between 24-28 weeks of gestation. During the OGTT, several indexes of insulin resistance, insulin secretion, lipid metabolism were measured in addition to the standard glucose measurements. RESULTS: Glucose area under curve (GAUC), insulin area under curve (IAUC), insulin sensitivity index (ISI) transformed to natural logarithm and triglycerides (TG) are all significantly higher (P < 0.05) in GDM women. The means of these indexes in GDM group are 26.3 mmol/L.h-1, 276.5 mU/L.h-1, 4.2 and 3.2 mmol/L, respeetively. On the other hand, however, the differences of these indexes (except TG) between GIGT and NGT women are not statistically significant. The ratio of IAUC/GAUC has an increasing trend from GDM group, GIGT group to NGT group (10.5, 11.4 and 11.7, respectively), but the difference is not statistically significant. Multiple correlation coefficient study demonstrated that ISI is significantly positively correlated with GAUC, IAUC and TG (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with NGT women, GDM women has impaired insulin secretion, abnormally increased insulin resistance, and relatively dyslipidemia. GDM seems to be a component of the syndrome of insulin resistance that provides an excellent model for study and prevention in a relatively young aged group.     

Use of fasting blood to assess the prevalence of insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using baseline fasting blood measurements of glucose and insulin. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: Academic endocrinology unit in Palermo, Italy. PATIENT(S): Two hundred and sixty-seven women with PCOS, consecutively evaluated, and 50 consecutively selected ovulating controls. INTERVENTION(S): Fasting blood was obtained for glucose and insulin measurements from all women. For 60 women with PCOS and 20 controls an insulin tolerance test (ITT) was also performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Assessment of normal and abnormal values for fasting insulin, glucose/insulin ratio, and the calculated indices of the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), quantitative sensitivity check index (QUICKI), as well as Kitt (kinetic disappearance of glucose) values after ITT. Evaluation was performed of the ability to detect IR using these methods in obese and nonobese women with PCOS. RESULT(S): Normal insulin sensitivity was defined by insulin levels <12 mU/mL, glucose/insulin ratios of >6.4, HOMA values of <47, and QUICKI values of >0.333. In the entire PCOS groups, IR was diagnosed in 65.4% of women using glucose/insulin ratios and in 77% and 79.2% using HOMA and QUICKI. In obese women (body mass index >28 in 48% of group), IR was present in 76.7% as measured by glucose/insulin ratios but was significantly higher (95.3%) using values of either HOMA or QUICKI (P<.01). All indices correlated with Kitt values with QUICKI showing the best correlation. CONCLUSION(S): Insulin resistance was detected in approximately 80% of women with PCOS, and in 95% of obese women. The detection of IR is superior using the calculated indices HOMA and QUICKI.     

Does metformin induce ovulation in normoandrogenic anovulatory women?

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of metformin in women with anovulation who do not have evidence for hyperandrogenism and classic polycystic ovary syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized trial of metformin (1500 mg daily) and placebo in 24 anovulatory women was undertaken for 3 months. Assessments of changes in hormone levels and insulin sensitivity were carried out. Abnormal hormonal values were defined by levels exceeding the range in normal ovulatory controls. RESULTS: Anovulatory women had normal androgen levels and luteinizing hormone but had higher serum insulin and lower insulin sensitivity compared with controls. Over 3 months, there were 16 ovulatory cycles with metformin and only 4 with placebo ( P < .05). Success of ovulation did not correlate with changes in androgen, insulin, or insulin sensitivity parameters. CONCLUSION: Metformin may be useful for inducing ovulation in anovulatory women who do not have hyperandrogenism. This effect may be independent of a lowering of androgen or insulin levels.     

Insulin resistance and lipid profile in women with polycystic appearing ovaries: implications with regard to polycystic ovary syndrome

The aim of this study was to investigate carbohydrate and lipid profiles in women with polycystic appearing ovaries (PCO) on ultrasound examination who did not fulfill the criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We sonographically evaluated and biochemically diagnosed 35 patients with PCO, 31 women with PCOS and 23 healthy controls. We performed oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and calculated the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and the homeostatic model assessment (HOMAIR) scores. Serum fasting insulin levels, 1-h insulin response, HOMAIR and QUICKI scores were significantly higher in the PCO and PCOS groups than in the controls. However, serum fasting glucose levels, fasting insulin levels, HOMAIR and QUICKI scores were similar in women with PCO and PCOS. In women with PCO, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were higher, and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and triglyceride levels were lower compared with women with PCOS. Furthermore, insulin responses to OGTT, HOMAIR and QUICKI scores and lipid values correlated with serum androgen levels and body mass index (BMI) in PCO patients. In conclusion, women with PCO who do not fulfill the criteria for PCOS have abnormal insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance. The finding of similar insulin abnormalities in women with PCO to those in women with PCOS confirms that women with PCO have similar metabolic characteristics to those with PCOS.     

Insulin resistance and lipid profile in women with polycystic appearing ovaries: implications with regard to polycystic ovary syndrome.

The aim of this study was to investigate carbohydrate and lipid profiles in women with polycystic appearing ovaries (PCO) on ultrasound examination who did not fulfill the criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We sonographically evaluated and biochemically diagnosed 35 patients with PCO, 31 women with PCOS and 23 healthy controls. We performed oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and calculated the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and the homeostatic model assessment (HOMAIR) scores. Serum fasting insulin levels, 1-h insulin response, HOMAIR and QUICKI scores were significantly higher in the PCO and PCOS groups than in the controls. However, serum fasting glucose levels, fasting insulin levels, HOMAIR and QUICKI scores were similar in women with PCO and PCOS. In women with PCO, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were higher, and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and triglyceride levels were lower compared with women with PCOS. Furthermore, insulin responses to OGTT, HOMAIR and QUICKI scores and lipid values correlated with serum androgen levels and body mass index (BMI) in PCO patients. In conclusion, women with PCO who do not fulfill the criteria for PCOS have abnormal insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance. The finding of similar insulin abnormalities in women with PCO to those in women with PCOS confirms that women with PCO have similar metabolic characteristics to those with PCOS.     

Obesity regulates bioavailable testosterone levels in women with or without polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate [1] the effects of levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), albumin, and total testosterone on the distribution of testosterone between SHBG-bound and non-SHBG-bound fractions; [2] the independent effects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and body mass index on serum levels of total testosterone, non-SHBG-bound testosterone, SHBG, and albumin; and [3] the usefulness of levels of total testosterone and non-SHBG-bound testosterone and of the free androgen index in the diagnosis of PCOS. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. SETTING: An academic research environment. PATIENT(S): Forty-three women with oligomenorrhea and PCOS. Twenty-five women with regular menstrual cycles and without hirsutism served as controls. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Levels of non-SHBG-bound testosterone, total testosterone, SHBG, and albumin in serum. RESULT(S): Levels of total testosterone and non-SHBG-bound testosterone, and the free androgen index were higher in patients with PCOS than in healthy controls. PCOS did not have an effect on the levels of SHBG or albumin, or on the percentage of non-SHBG-bound testosterone. Levels of SHBG and albumin were inversely related to body mass index. The percentage and concentration of non-SHBG-bound testosterone and the free androgen index were directly related to body mass index. Hirsutism did not have an effect on any outcome measure. CONCLUSION(S): The distribution of total testosterone into SHBG-bound and non-SHBG-bound fractions is associated with body mass index, not with PCOS. The high levels of non-SHBG-bound testosterone and the high free androgen index in patients with PCOS reflect mainly high levels of total testosterone. Thus, the measurement of levels of non-SHBG-bound testosterone and the calculation of the free androgen index provide no further information in the diagnosis of PCOS beyond that provided by the measurement of levels of total testosterone.     

Effects of laparoscopic ovarian drilling on adrenal steroids in polycystic ovary syndrome patients with and without hyperinsulinemia

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate adrenal steroid responses to ACTH stimulation and insulin responses to oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in clomiphene-citrate-resistant anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) before and after laparoscopic ovarian drilling. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Healthy participants in a university teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Twenty clomiphene-citrate-resistant anovulatory women with PCOS. INTERVENTION(S): Laparoscopic ovarian drilling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Adrenal steroid responses to ACTH stimulation and insulin responses to OGTT before and after ovarian drilling. RESULT(S): Fourteen of 20 women completed the study. There was a correlation between body mass index and basal insulin levels before ovarian drilling. This correlation was lost after surgery. Area-under-the-curve glucose and insulin values before surgery in women with hyperinsulinemia (1,033.3 +/- 112.7 mmol/L and 141,919 +/- 26,177 pmol/L, respectively) were significantly higher than in those with normoinsulinemia (777.1 +/- 77.2 mmol/L and 69,867 +/- 19,390 pmol/L respectively, P<.05). There was a significant difference in insulin and glucose responses before and after ovarian drilling in women with hyperinsulinemia. No difference was found in women with normoinsulinemia. There was no significant difference in adrenal steroid responses to ACTH stimulation before and after ovarian drilling. CONCLUSION(S): PCOS women with hyperinsulinemia respond differently to laparoscopic ovarian drilling than do those with normoinsulinemia. Among women with hyperinsulinemia, surgery decreases glucose and insulin responses to OGTT. Regardless of the insulin level, laparoscopic ovarian drilling does not influence adrenal steroid dynamics.     

Low-dose hormone therapy and carbohydrate metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence by two low doses of oral continuous-combined formulations of 17 beta-estradiol (E(2)) and norethisterone acetate (NETA) on carbohydrate metabolism in healthy postmenopausal women. DESIGN: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Volunteers at a university hospital. SUBJECT: One hundred twenty healthy postmenopausal women. INTERVENTION(S): One hundred twenty women were randomized to three treatment arms: (1) E(2) 1 mg/NETA 0.25 mg group (n = 40); (2) E(2) 1 mg/NETA 0.5 mg group (n = 40); (3) placebo group (n = 40). A total of 102 women completed 12 months of treatment. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Fasting glucose, fasting insulin, total area under the curve (AUC) and insulin/glucose index during OGTT. RESULT(S): Fasting levels of glucose and insulin declined significantly in the E(2)/NETA 0.5 mg group. At OGTT, the total AUC for insulin declined in both active arms. The curve for glucose increased significantly in the E(2)/NETA 0.25 mg group. A lower insulin/glucose index was observed during OGTT in both active regimens when compared with placebo. In the active treatment groups, a significant reduction of fasting glucose and/or fasting insulin was encountered in women with higher basal fasting levels (fasting glucose >4.2 mmol/L or log-fasting insulin >0.87). CONCLUSION(S): Oral low-dose E(2) 1 mg/NETA 0.5 mg regimen did not impair carbohydrate metabolism, but seemed to improve insulin sensitivity in healthy postmenopausal women.     

Hormone profiling,including anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and characterization of PCOS phenotypes

Objective was to evaluate serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and in its different phenotypes in relation to clinical, endocrine and metabolic parameters using a new automated VIDAS^® method and to compare it with the Gen II method. Study design was multi-center study including 319 PCOS women and 109 healthy controls. Serum AMH levels measured using VIDAS^® were significantly higher in PCOS women than controls (p?<?.001), and they correlated with those measured using the AMH Gen II method. An AMH cutoff value of 42.1?pmol/L distinguished PCOS women from controls with 67% sensitivity and 83% specificity. The PCOS women with three Rotterdam criteria or hyperandrogenism displayed significantly higher AMH levels compared with those with two Rotterdam criteria or normoandrogenism. In PCOS, AMH levels correlated positively with luteinizing hormone (LH), androgen and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels and negatively with BMI, abdominal obesity, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), fasting glucose and insulin, and insulin resistance. In conclusion, AMH evaluated using the VIDAS^® method distinguished PCOS patients from healthy controls relatively well, especially in those with more severe phenotypes. Further studies are needed to establish whether AMH measurements can distinguish PCOS patients with different metabolic risk factors.     

Effects of metformin and rosiglitazone, alone and in combination, in nonobese women with polycystic ovary syndrome and normal indices of insulin sensitivity

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether insulin-sensitizing drugs would improve ovulation and T levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), without clinical or biochemical criteria indicating insulin resistance and whether the combination of two distinct insulin-sensitizing drugs would be of any benefit over either drug alone. DESIGN: Randomized controlled double-blind trial. SETTING: A referral center in Caracas, Venezuela. PATIENT(S): One hundred twenty-eight nonobese PCOS women with normal indices of insulin sensitivity-that is, normal glucose tolerance, fasting insulin, peak insulin during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and fasting glucose-to-insulin ratio. Twenty-eight women were lost to follow-up initially and did not receive any intervention. INTERVENTION(S): One hundred women received twice daily one of the following for 6 months: metformin (850 mg), rosiglitazone (4 mg), combination of both drugs, or at least one placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Frequencies of ovulation and serum free T after 6 months. RESULT(S): Frequencies of ovulation were higher after treatment with an insulin-sensitizing drug (ovulations per subject in 6 months: metformin, 3.3; rosiglitazone, 2.4; and combination, 3.4) than with placebo (0.4). Ovulatory frequencies increased significantly more with metformin than rosiglitazone, and the combination was not more potent. After treatment, serum free-T levels were comparable among all active treatment groups (metformin: 2.34 pg/mL, rosiglitazone: 3.06 pg/mL, and combination: 2.39 pg/mL) and were significantly lower than in the placebo group (7.26 pg/mL). Compared with placebo, fasting insulin levels, area under the insulin curve during OGTT, the homeostatic model assessment of insulin sensitivity, and OGTT-derived insulin sensitivity index improved significantly after metformin or combination therapies but not after rosiglitazone. CONCLUSION(S): These findings suggest that insulin-sensitizing drugs increase ovulatory frequency and ameliorate hyperandrogenemia, even in nonobese women with PCOS who appear to have normal insulin sensitivity.     

多囊卵巢综合征患者脂代谢的研究

目的探讨多囊卵巢综合征（ＰＣＯＳ）患者雄激素过多和胰岛素抵抗与脂代谢的关系。方法对黄体生成素（ＬＨ）／卵泡刺激素（ＦＳＨ）≥３的１５例Ⅰ型组患者、ＬＨ／ＦＳＨ＜３的１５例Ⅱ型组患者和２０例对照组妇女,行黄体生成素释放激素（ＬＲＨ,１００μｇ）兴奋垂体－卵巢轴功能试验,观察试验前后３组睾酮（Ｔ）、甘油三酯（ＴＧ）、高密度脂蛋白－胆固醇（ＨＤＬ－Ｃ）及其载脂蛋白（Ａ１）（ａｐｏＡ１）的变化。结果基础状态下,ＴＧ浓度高低顺序是对照组＜Ⅰ型组＜Ⅱ型组,ＨＤＬ－Ｃ的情况正好相反;ＬＲＨ试验后,两个患者组Ｔ和ＴＧ均呈上升曲线,ＨＤＬ－Ｃ呈下降曲线,尤其以Ⅱ型组的变化更加明显。结论Ⅱ型组患者的脂代谢异常比Ⅰ型组更加严重。雄激素过多和胰岛素抵抗是ＰＣＯＳ患者脂代谢异常的两个基本因素。     

非肥胖型多囊卵巢综合征患者体脂分布与胰岛素抵抗的研究

目的:研究非肥胖型多囊卵巢综合征(non-obese polycystic ovary syndrome,Nob-PCOS)患者体脂分布与胰岛素抵抗的关系。方法:非肥胖型多囊卵巢综合征(Nob-P-COS组)40例,以年龄、体重指数相匹配健康育龄妇女45例为对照组,采用双能X线吸收仪(DXA)测量全身和局部身体脂肪含量,化学发光法检测生殖内分泌,全自动生化分析仪检测糖、脂代谢指标。结果:Nob-PCOS组空腹胰岛素(INS)、胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、睾酮(T)分别为9.90±4.40μIU/ml、4.62±0.65mmol/L、2.98±1.02mmol/L、1.72±0.81nmol/L,均显著高于对照组的7.39±4.45μIU/ml、4.37±0.73mmol/L、2.63±0.65mmol/L、1.20±0.62nmol/L,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);Nob-PCOS组胰岛素敏感指数(ISI)为0.026±0.016,低于对照组的0.050±0.034,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);Nob-PCOS组躯干脂肪量9081.38±2726.81g,高于对照组的7878.69±1187.41g,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);Nob-PCOS组躯干/大腿脂肪比为1.51±0.31,高于对照组的1.33±0.24,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。躯干/大腿脂肪比与ISI呈负相关(r=-0.307,P<0.05)。结论:Nob-PCOS患者糖、脂代谢存在异常和胰岛素抵抗;Nob-PCOS组脂肪分布呈男性脂肪分布模式,向心性脂肪分布与胰岛素抵抗呈正相关。     

Free Fatty Acids and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Summary: Dyslipidaemia is a common finding in the syndrome of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Free fatty acids (FFA) can cause insulin resistance and have a toxic effect on beta cell function. GDM is a syndrome due to insulin resistance and the purpose of this study was to examine FFA levels in pregnancy. For this purpose samples were taken from 44 consecutive women with GDM and 36 consecutive controls. The women with GDM had similar levels of insulin, triglycerides and total cholesterol to the controls but a significant elevation in FFA; 0.70 (0.33) mmol/L versus 0.29 (0.12) mmol/L (p<0.0001). A raised level of FFA may be responsible for the insulin resistance of GDM and may assist in the diagnosis.     

Vascular endothelial growth factor in females of reproductive age

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between clinical cardiovascular risk factors and clinical androgen excess, with direct comparison to radial artery intima media thickness (rIMT). rIMT of 91 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were compared with 72 healthy women. Patients were divided into three groups with regard to body mass index (BMI). Group1?=?56 women (31 controls and 25 PCOS) with low BMI(18–22.49?kg/m²), Group2?=?36 women (15 controls and 21 PCOS) with normal BMI (22.5–24.99?kg/m²) and Group3?=?71 women (26 controls and 45 PCOS) with high BMI (25–30?kg/m²). rIMT was significantly higher in patients with PCOS (p?=?0.007). rIMT was significantly higher group1 and group3 in patients with PCOS compared to controls (p?=?0.007 and p?=?0.042, respectively). There was a significant positive association between rIMT levels and fT in women with PCOS in group1 (r?=?0.24, p?=?0.04). rIMT levels correlated to fT levels in women with PCOS in group3 (r?=?0.32, p?=?0.03). Modified Ferriman–Gallwey (mFG) scores demonstrated a positive association with free testosterone, total testosterone, free androgen index, waist circumference (WC), LH levels, insulin levels, Homeostasis Model Assessment index(HOMA-IR), rIMT and a negative correlation with sex hormone binding globulin in group1 and group2. mFG scores demonstrated a positive association with free testosterone (r?=?0.33, p?=?0.029) in group3, but no association was found between mFG and WC, HOMA-IR in group3. Our findings indicate that clinical androgen excess may be associated with cardiovascular disease in patients with PCOS.     

N-acetyl-cysteine treatment improves insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective: To evaluate the effect of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) on insulin secretion and peripheral insulin resistance in subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design: Prospective data analysis.

Setting: Volunteer women in an academic research environment.

Patient(s): Six lean and 31 obese subjects, aged 19–33 years.

Intervention(s): Patients were treated for 5–6 weeks with NAC at a dose of 1.8 g/day orally. A dose of 3 g/day was arbitrarily chosen for massively obese subjects. Six of 31 obese patients with PCOS were treated with placebo and served as controls.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Before and after the treatment period, the hormonal and lipid blood profile and insulin sensitivity, assessed by an hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, were evaluated and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed.

Result(s): Fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and glucose area under curve (AUC) were unchanged after treatment. Insulin AUC after OGTT was significantly reduced, and the peripheral insulin sensitivity increased after NAC administration, whereas the hepatic insulin extraction was unaffected. The NAC treatment induced a significant fall in T levels and in free androgen index values (P<.05). In analyzing patients according to their insulinemic response to OGTT, normoinsulinemic subjects and placebo-treated patients did not show any modification of the above parameters, whereas a significant improvement was observed in hyperinsulinemic subjects.

Conclusion(s): NAC may be a new treatment for the improvement of insulin circulating levels and insulin sensitivity in hyperinsulinemic patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.     

Early occurrence of metabolic syndrome after hypertension in pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the cardiovascular risk profile and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among women with a history of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). METHODS: From a cohort of 3,799 nulliparous women prospectively recruited between 1989 and 1997, we performed an observational study on 168 case-control pairs 7.8 years after delivery. Participants were scheduled for a visit with a research nurse to evaluate their cardiovascular risk profile using a questionnaire, anthropometric measurements and blood specimen analysis. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-eight women with prior PIH (105 with gestational hypertension and 63 with preeclampsia) and 168 controls matched for age and year of index delivery were evaluated. The women with PIH (34.6 +/- 4.4 years) were more obese and had higher systolic (115 mm Hg versus 108 mm Hg) and diastolic (75 mm Hg versus 70 mm Hg) blood pressures (P < .001) than the 168 controls (35.1 +/- 4.5 years). They had lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (1.30 mmol/L versus 1.42 mmol/L; P < .001), increased fasting blood glucose concentration (5.2 mmol/L versus 5.0 mmol/L; P = .002), and higher insulin levels (119 versus 91 pmol/L; P < .001). The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was higher in the PIH group (unadjusted odds ratio = 4.9; 95% confidence interval 2.1-10.9) compared with controls, even after adjustment for confounders (adjusted odds ratio = 3.6; 95% confidence interval 1.4 -9.0). CONCLUSION: In white women in their mid-30s, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is 3- to 5-fold increased in those with a history of PIH in their first pregnancy. This emphasizes the importance of long-term follow-up assessment for cardiovascular risk factors in these women.