Publication:

Insulin resistance in obese and lean women with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Background According to NIH criteria for PCOS, the estimated prevalence of this disorder has been reported to range from 4% to 10% of women in their reproductive years, which designates PCOS as the most common endocrinopathy of women. Insulin resistance is common in PCOS and obesity contributes an additional component to insulin resistance in obese PCOS.

Methods The study was a prospective study. One-hundred and twenty PCOS women were divided into two groups: Group O - obese (n = 60) and Group L - lean (body mass index [BMI] cutoff <23 kg/m2). Oral glucose tolerance test, serum fasting insulin and HOMA- IR were compared between these groups.

Results Impaired glucose tolerance was seen in 33.3 % of lean PCOS and 36.7% of obese PCOS women. 5% of lean PCOS and 10% of obese PCOS women had hyperinsulinemia. 38.3% of lean PCOS and 51.7% of obese PCOS women had insulin resistance. But the differences were not statistically significant. However, HOMA-IR and fasting insulin values showed a significant positive correlation with BMI.

Conclusions Both obese and lean women with PCOS are vulnerable to the problems of insulin resistance irrespective of BMI and insulin resistance shows a positive correlation with BMI.