title: Exercise training improves autonomic function and inflammatory pattern in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common female reproductive-age endocrine disease predominantly characterized by chronic anovulation, hyperandrogenism, insulin-resistance and low-grade inflammatory status. Exercise training (ET) favourably modulates cardiopulmonary function and insulin-sensitivity markers in PCOS women. The present study investigated the effects of ET on autonomic function and inflammatory pattern in PCOS women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective baseline uncontrolled clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-hundred and eighty five PCOS women referred to our department were screened for the inclusion into the study protocol from March 2004 to July 2007. One-hundred and twenty four PCOS women met the criteria for the inclusion into the study protocol and were subdivided into two groups each composed of 62 patients: PCOS-T (trained) group underwent 3-month ET program, whereas PCOS-UnT (untrained) group did not. At baseline and at 3-month follow-up, hormonal and metabolic profile, cardiopulmonary parameters, autonomic function (as expressed by heart rate recovery, HRR) and inflammatory pattern [as expressed by C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells (WBCs) count] were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PCOS-T showed a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2max)) and in post-exercise HRR, and a significant (P < 0.001) decrease in CRP and WBCs; whereas no statistically significant changes of the same parameters were observed in PCOS-UnT. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that 3-month HRR is linearly related to the inclusion in training group (beta = 0.316, P < 0.001), VO(2max) (beta = 0.151, P = 0.032) and the ratio between glucose and insulin area under curve (AUC) (beta = 0.207, P = 0.003), and inversely related to body mass index (beta = -0.146, P = 0.046), insulin AUC (beta = -0.152, P = 0.032), CRP (beta = -0.165, P < 0.021), and WBCs count (beta = -0.175, P = 0.039).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise training improves autonomic function and inflammatory pattern in PCOS women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Cardiovascular and Immunological Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giallauria
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palomba
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maresca
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vuolo
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tafuri
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colao
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vigorito
authors.forename: Orio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Francesco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin