The impact of insulin resistance on clinical, hormonal and metabolic parameters in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

This study was performed to assess insulin resistance (IR) in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Retrospective analysis of 100 consecutive lean (body mass index <25 kg/m²) PCOS subjects was performed. Subjects were divided into two groups according to homeostasis model assessment IR index (HOMA-IR), as IR + and IR-. A HOMA-IR value >2.5 was used to indicate IR. A total of 100 lean PCOS subjects were enrolled in the study, of which 47% were insulin resistant. Comparison of group means showed significantly higher values for waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), diastolic blood pressure and Ferriman-Gallwey score (FGS) in IR + group. HOMA-IR values were found to be positively correlated with WHR (r = 0.500, p < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.265, p < 0.01), diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.273, p < 0.01), estradiol levels (r = 0.218, p < 0.05), FGS (r = 0.456, p < 0.01) and total testosterone levels (r = 0.291, p < 0.01). When evaluating PCOS subjects, the insulin resistant group should be separated as unique and IR should also be evaluated in lean women with PCOS.

Keywords: Polycystic ovary syndrome; insulin resistance; lean.