Testosterone is associated with insulin resistance index independently of adiposity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

To study the associations between androgens, glucose homeostasis, inflammation and statin treatment in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

DESIGN AND METHODS

Oral glucose tolerance tests, androgens, hs-CRP and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) were analyzed at baseline and after 6 months of atorvastatin (20 mg/d) or placebo treatment in 27 women with PCOS.

RESULTS

Testosterone associated with insulin resistance measured with ISI independently of BMI, age and SHBG concentrations and the full model, including IL-1Ra, hs-CRP and HDL-C, also showed independency of BMI and waist circumference (p ≤ .042). Free androgen index (FAI) associated with ISI independently of adiposity (p ≤ .025) but in the full model with waist circumference the association was insignificant. ISI decreased with testosterone >1.2 nmol/l compared with lower levels at baseline (p = .043) and at six months (p = .003). Accordingly, 30-minute insulin levels were increased with moderately elevated testosterone independently of adiposity (p ≤ .046). Increased fasting glucose and AUC insulin associated with statin treatment independently of adiposity and the associations attenuated after adjusting for testosterone.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderately elevated testosterone concentrations together with obesity-related inflammatory factors modify glucose homeostasis by increasing insulin resistance and early insulin secretion.