Serum lipid profile and insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Background and purpose: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrine disorder with lipid disturbances, is associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and central obesity.The aim of this study was to determine lipid profile, fasting plasma glucose, and insulin resistance in women with PCOS in comparison with a control group. Materials and methods:This case-control study was conducted on 153 women with PCOS and 449 healthy women as controls.Data was extracted from data center of Diabetes Research Center of Ahwaz University of Medical Sciences including women from 4 cities of Khuzestan province (Ahwaz, Behbahan, Abadan, and Khorramshahr).Serum lipids, plasma fasting glucose, and serum insulin levels along with Body Mass Index (BMI), Homeostatic Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA IR), Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP), and Body Adiposity Index were compared using appropriate statistical tests. Results:The frequency of low HDL and high total cholesterol was higher in women with PCOS than control group (p =0.032, and p =0.001, respectively).No statistically significant difference was found between two studied groups in the mean levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, fasting glucose, HOMA IR, LAP, and PA (p >0.05).In women with BMI<25 and BMI between 25 and 30, the mean level of total cholesterol was higher in PCOS group than control group, whereas there was no significant difference in women with BMI>30.In women with BMI>30, the mean triglyceride and glucose levels was higher in PCOS group than control group (p =0.029, and p =0.010). Conclusion:In obese women, the triglyceride and fasting glucose levels are higher in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome than healthy women.In non-obese women, however, the total cholesterol level is higher in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome than healthy women.