title: Iron stores and obesity are negatively associated with ovarian volume and anti-Müllerian hormone levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity and insulin resistance are associated with increased iron stores, but have conflicting effects on ovarian reserve in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Iron-catalyzed oxidative stress might be detrimental to ovarian tissue and granulosa cell function. In this study we determined the association between body iron stores, obesity, and ovarian reserve in women with PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty-six women diagnosed with PCOS according to Rotterdam criteria and 30 normoweight healthy control women were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Ovarian volume, total antral follicle count, and the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level were measured as an indicator of ovarian reserve.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ferritin and transferrin-bound iron levels were significantly higher in women with PCOS than normoweight controls. Obese women with PCOS had higher ferritin levels (p = 0.006), but lower AMH levels (p < 0.0001) than nonobese women with PCOS. Using univariate analysis, the AMH level and mean ovarian volume were inversely related to the ferritin level, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and body mass index in women with PCOS. Body mass index and ferritin level remained significantly correlated with a lower AMH level and reduced ovarian volume, respectively, after considering other confounding variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An elevated ferritin level and obesity were negatively associated with ovarian volume and the AMH level, respectively, in women with PCOS.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jehn-Hsiahn
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Shiung
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hong-Nerng
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Shih
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: mjchen04@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Mei-Jou
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D005293:Ferritins
keywords: anti-Müllerian hormone; ferritin; iron stores; obesity; ovarian volume