title: Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with atherogenic changes in lipoprotein particle number and size independent of body weight.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adverse changes in lipoprotein particle number and size are common with insulin resistance and are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Comprehensive information regarding lipoprotein particle number and size, and how these parameters relate to body weight, insulin resistance and hyperandrogenemia is lacking in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We tested the hypothesis that PCOS is associated with atherogenic changes in lipoprotein profile independent of body weight and examined the role of insulin resistance and androgens in these atherogenic changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study performed at Clinical Research Center at an Academic Medical Center in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fasting blood was obtained from 25 PCOS and 25 control women of similar age and body mass index (BMI). Lipoprotein particle number and size was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean BMI for both groups was <30 kg/m(2) (P = 0·33). Women with PCOS had an increase in very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particle number (P = 0·005), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle number (P = 0·02) and a decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) size (P = 0·04). LDL size was borderline decreased (P = 0·09). These differences persisted after adjustment for ethnicity, alcohol and tobacco intake and exercise. In stepwise regression models, bioavailable testosterone was the only predictor of LDL cholesterol, triglyceride, VLDL and LDL particle number. Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) was the only predictor of LDL and HDL size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Independent of body weight, PCOS was associated with changes in lipoprotein profile that increases risk for cardiovascular disease. These changes were present in a mostly nonobese group of women and were more closely related to androgens than fasting insulin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismDepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologyDepartment of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sidhwani
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scoccia
authors.forename: Shwetha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sunghay
authors.forename: Chantale N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Stephens-Archer
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mazzone
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001835:Body Weight; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D008074:Lipoproteins