Central fat excess in polycystic ovary syndrome: relation to low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance.
BACKGROUND
It is controversial whether the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) per se increases low-grade chronic inflammation and whether this relates to central fat excess. In addition, the association between circulating sex hormones and body fat distribution in premenopausal women is debated.


METHODS
Blood was drawn from 20 patients with PCOS and compared with 15 controls, matched for body mass index and age. Regional fat distribution was assessed using dual x-ray absorptiometry.


RESULTS
Compared with controls, patients with PCOS had a higher trunk to extremity fat ratio (T/E fat), were more insulin resistant (higher homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and lower SHBG concentrations), and had higher levels of highly sensitive C-reactive protein, TNF-alpha, procalcitonin, and white blood cell count (all P < or = 0.04), even after adjusting for total body fat. However, additional adjusting for T/E fat eliminated or attenuated the effect of PCOS status on estimates of insulin resistance, on inflammatory mediators, and on white blood cell count but not on circulating sex hormones. Independently of each other, total body fat as well as T/E fat correlated with estimates of insulin resistance and most inflammatory mediators (P < or = 0.04). However, the correlations between T/E fat and circulating sex hormones (P < or = 0.02) were greatly reduced after adjustment for the presence of PCOS.


CONCLUSIONS
The increase in low-grade chronic inflammation and in insulin resistance in women with PCOS is primarily associated with increased central fat excess rather than PCOS status per se. Procalcitonin represents a novel marker of the inflammatory activity of body fat and of PCOS.
Puder
Jardena J
JJ
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland. Puderj@uhbs.ch
Varga
Sabina
S
Kraenzlin
Marius
M
De Geyter
Christian
C
Keller
Ulrich
U
Müller
Beat
B
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004958:Estradiol; D002097:C-Reactive Protein