title: Global adiposity and thickness of intraperitoneal and mesenteric adipose tissue depots are increased in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexual dimorphism suggests a role for androgens in body fat distribution. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a mainly androgen excess disorder, often present with abdominal obesity and visceral adiposity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesized that women with PCOS have a masculinized body fat distribution favoring the deposition of fat in visceral and organ-specific adipose tissue depots.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted at an academic hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with PCOS (n = 55), women without androgen excess (n = 25), and men (n = 26) presenting with similar body mass index participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were no interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ultrasound measurements of adipose tissue depots including sc (minimum and maximum), preperitoneal, ip, mesenteric, epicardial, and perirenal fat thickness were obtained and total body fat mass was estimated using a body fat monitor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Men and patients with PCOS had increased amounts of total body fat compared with control women. Men had increased thickness of intraabdominal adipose tissue depots compared with the control women, with the women with PCOS showing intermediate values that were also higher than those of control women in the case of ip and mesenteric fat thickness and was close to reaching statistical significance in the case of epicardial fat thickness. Women with PCOS also showed increased minimum sc fat thickness compared with the control women. Obesity increased the thickness of all of the adipose tissue depots in the 3 groups of subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with PCOS have higher global adiposity and increased amounts of visceral adipose tissue compared with control women, especially in the ip and mesenteric depots.
authors: Diabetes, Obesity, and Human Reproduction Research Group, Universidad de Alcalá and Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Susana
authors: S
authors: Borruel
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Fernández-Durán
authors: Macarena
authors: M
authors: Alpañés
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Martí
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Alvarez-Blasco
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Luque-Ramírez
authors: Héctor F
authors: HF
authors: Escobar-Morreale
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014770:Virilism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D008055:Lipids