Body composition, glucose metabolism markers and serum androgens - association in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: To evaluate the association between abdominal and gynoid fat, glucose and lipid metabolism markers, and serum androgens in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Material and methods: Anthropometric measurements were performed in 40 women with PCOS aged 19-49 years with body mass index (BMI) 18.7-53.8 kg/m2. Fasting serum glucose, lipids, insulin, leptin, LH, FSH, oestradiol, androgens, SHGB and TSH were estimated. Body composition was measured by DEXA scan.

Results: Four women (10%) were overweight, and 23 (57.5%) were obese. All subjects were hyperandrogenic (in 33 serum androgen levels were increased), and 16 of them were insulin resistant. All of the obese subjects had the abdominal type of obesity. Body weight, BMI, fat mass, fat mass of the trunk, abdominal and gynoidal fat mass correlated with serum triglyceride, glucose and insulin levels, and with HOMA index and blood pressure. Free androgen index (FAI) correlated with body weight (r = 0.43, p 〈 0.01), and BMI (r = 0.46, p 〈 0.05).

Conclusions: Using the DEXA method, we demonstrated abdominal type of obesity in all our obese subjects. There were positive significant correlations between fatness, lipids and glucose metabolism indices and blood pressure. Direct positive correlations between free androgen index, body weight and BMI were found.