title: Birth weight and polycystic ovary syndrome in adult life: is there a causal link?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several studies have demonstrated associations of birth weight with metabolic and reproductive abnormalities in adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the birth weight in women with PCOS and its correlation with clinical and biochemical characteristics of the syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 288 women with PCOS according to the NIH criteria and 166 women with normal cycle and without clinical hyperandrogenism. Birth weight and anthropometric characteristics were recorded, and levels of serum androgens, SHBG, insulin and fasting glucose were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Birth weight data were available for 243/288 women with PCOS and age- and BMI-matched 101/166 controls. No differences were found (p> 0.05) in birth weight among women with PCOS and normal controls. Birth weight of PCOS women was negatively correlated with DHEAS levels (p = 0.031, r = -0.143) and positively correlated with waist circumference (p <0.001, r = 0.297) and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.040, r = 0.132). Birth weight of controls was negatively correlated with SHBG levels (p = 0.021, r = -0.234). Women from both groups were further divided in 6 categories according to birth weight (A. <2.500 gr, B. 2.501-3.000 gr, C. 3.001-3.500 gr, D. 3.501-4.000 gr, E. 4.001-4.500 gr, F. > 4.500 gr). No statistically significant differences were observed in the distribution percentages between PCOS women and controls. (A. 7% vs 7.9%, B. 26.8% vs 20.8%, C. 39.1% vs 48.5%, D. 21.4% vs 20.8%, E. 4.9% vs 2%, F. 0.8% vs 0%), (in all comparisons, p> 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with PCOS do not differ from controls in birth weight distribution. However, birth weight may contribute to subtypes of the syndrome that are characterized by adrenal hyperandrogenism and central obesity.
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Hellenic Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: Stavroula A
authors: SA
authors: Paschou
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, "Amalia Fleming" Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: Dimitrios
authors: D
authors: Ioannidis
authors: Endocrine Unit, Second Department of Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: Evangeline
authors: E
authors: Vassilatou
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Hellenic Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Mizamtsidi
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, "Amalia Fleming" Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Panagou
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, "Amalia Fleming" Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: Dimitrios
authors: D
authors: Lilis
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, "Amalia Fleming" Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: Ioanna
authors: I
authors: Tzavara
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Hellenic Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: Andromachi
authors: A
authors: Vryonidou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D001724:Birth Weight; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin