Oxidised low-density lipoprotein concentration - early marker of an altered lipid metabolism in young women with PCOS.
OBJECTIVE
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are assumed to be at increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. This study examined the variations in oxidised low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) concentration in relation to insulin levels in young women with PCOS.


METHODS
Cross-sectional clinical study in tertiary cares research hospitals. A total of 179 women with PCOS (79 overweight) and 56 age- and body mass index-matched controls were examined.


METHODS
Blood samples were collected in follicular phase of the cycle for the basal glucose, total-, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and LDL-cholesterol, OxLDL, triglycerides, apolipoprotein-A1 (Apo-A1) and B (Apo-B), lipoprotein (a), insulin, testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Homeostatic model index (HOMA) and free androgen index (FAI) were determined.


RESULTS
Overweight and normal weight women with PCOS had higher concentrations of OxLDL than their control counterparts (P = 0.007 and 0.003 respectively). Both the basal insulin (P = 0.003) and HOMA values (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in overweight than normal weight patients. Testosterone and FAI were higher in patients than in the respective controls (P < 0.001). The only independent predictor of increased OxLDL concentration in normal weight patients was Apo-B-to-Apo-A1 ratio (P < 0.001, odds ratio (OR) 6.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.3-16.4), while in obese PCOS, it was total cholesterol-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (P < 0.001, OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.6-4.9).


CONCLUSIONS
Young normal weight and overweight PCOS women have similarly increased OxLDL levels. Our results may indicate the presence of primary alteration in lipid metabolism in patients with PCOS. To answer the question whether the alteration in LDL particle size can by itself pose a higher cardiovascular risk, a careful follow-up of these women is needed.
Macut
Djuro
D
Institute of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, Dr Subotića 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. macut@EUnet.yu
Damjanovic
Svetozar
S
Panidis
Dimitrios
D
Spanos
Nikolaos
N
Glisic
Biljana
B
Petakov
Milan
M
Rousso
David
D
Kourtis
Anargyros
A
Bjekic
Jelica
J
Milic
Natasa
N
D000328:Adult; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000235:genetics; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D007328:Insulin; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone