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Horm Metab Res 2011; 43(2): 141-145
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1270450
Humans, Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Insulin Resistance Variability in Women with Anovulatory and Ovulatory Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and Normal Controls

L. W. Cho1 , [*] , E. S. Kilpatrick2 , B. G. Keevil3 , V. Jayagopal4 , A. M. Coady5 , A. S. Rigby6 , S. L. Atkin1
  • 1Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Hull, Hull, UK
  • 2Department of Clinical Biochemistry Hull Royal Infirmary, University of Hull, Hull, UK
  • 3Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK
  • 4Department of Medicine, York Hospital, York, UK
  • 5Department of Radiology, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK
  • 6Academic Department of Cardiology, University of Hull, UK
Further Information

Publication History

received 29.04.2010

accepted after second revision 07.12.2010

Publication Date:
13 January 2011 (online)

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Abstract

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were found to have a higher biological variability in insulin resistance (IR) compared to controls, but it is unknown whether this variability in IR differs between PCOS who are anovulatory compared to those who have an ovulatory cycle. The primary aim of this study was to compare and contrast the variability of IR in women with ovulatory and anovulatory PCOS, in comparison to normal subjects. 53 Caucasian women with PCOS and 22 normal ovulating women were recruited. Fasting blood was collected each day on 10 consecutive occasions at 3–4 day intervals for analysis of insulin, glucose, progesterone, and testosterone. Analysis of progesterone levels showed 22 of 53 women with PCOS to have had an ovulatory cycle. Insulin resistance was calculated by HOMA method. Women with anovulatory PCOS had higher mean and variability of IR compared to those having an ovulatory cycle, and both were significantly higher than controls (mean±SEM; HOMA-IR 4.14±0.14 vs. 3.65±0.15 vs. 2.21±0.16, respectively) after adjustment or BMI. The mean BMI for individual PCOS patients correlated with mean HOMA-IR (p=0.009). Insulin resistance in women with anovulatory PCOS is both higher and more variable than in ovulatory PCOS. Since anovulatory PCOS therefore mimics the IR features of type 2 diabetes more closely, anovulation may be particularly associated with a higher cardiovascular risk compared to PCOS patients who ovulate.

Key words

ovulation - insulin resistance - polycystic ovary syndrome - cardiovascular risk

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1 L. W. Cho is currently at the Department of Endocrinology,Changi Hospital, Singapore.

Correspondence

L. W. Cho

Consultant Endocrinologist

Department of Endocrinology

Changi General Hospital

2 Simei Street 3

529889 Singapore

Phone: +65/85/226 934

Fax: +65/67/816 202

Email: lwcho@doctors.org.uk