Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate/free androgen index ratio predicts a favorable metabolic profile in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Potential effect of hyperandrogenemia on metabolic disturbances in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has always been a matter of interest. We analyzed the records of 125 patients with PCOS and 54 age-matched healthy women. All participants underwent biochemical and hormonal assessment and a 75?g oral glucose tolerance test was performed. PCOS and control groups were comparable in terms of age. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate/free androgen index (DHEAS/FAI) ratio was negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI) (p?<?.001), fasting glucose (p?=?.02), area under the curve (AUC) of glucose (p?=?.03), AUC of insulin (p?=?.001), homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p?<?.001), and triglycerides (TG) (p?=?.009), and positively correlated with insulin sensitivity index (ISI) (p?<?.001) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (p?<?.001) among PCOS patients. In logistic regression analysis, higher DHEAS/FAI ratio levels were associated with lower risk of low HDL-C RR(95%CI); 0.97(0.95–0.98); p?<?.001] as well as atherogenic dyslipidemia (TG/HDL-C) RR(95%CI); 0.97(0.94–0.99); p?=?.035] even after adjustment for BMI in the PCOS group. Androgens, DHEAS and FAI act differently on metabolic parameters. Our results demonstrate that high DHEA-S/FAI ratio levels are associated with a more favorable metabolic profile.