Insulin resistance and overweight-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

AIM

To estimate (1) the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) by fasting glucose: insulin ratio (G:I) (G:I <or= 4.5) in overweight-obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women, (2) to compare the clinical and biochemical parameters between insulin-resistant and insulin-sensitive groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-one overweight-obese PCOS women (body mass index (BMI) >or= 23 kg/m(2)) were studied. PCOS was diagnosed as per the Rotterdam 2003 criteria. BMI, abdominal circumference (AC), hirsutism (Ferriman Gallway score >or=6), presence of acne and acanthosis nigricans (AN) were noted in each case. Serum testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels were measured.

RESULTS

23.5% women were found to have IR. There were no differences in age, frequency of hirsutism, acne, serum testosterone and fasting glucose levels between insulin-resistant and insulin-sensitive women. However, there were significant differences in BMI, AC, frequency of AN, SHBG levels, fasting insulin levels and FAI between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

PCOS women with IR are more obese; they have more upper body adiposity and AN. They are more hyperandrogenic. Simple clinical parameters will help to suspect IR in PCOS women.