Evaluation of muscle strength assessment in adolescent polycystic ovary syndrome: a case control study

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in adolescents characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, hyperandrogenism and metabolic disturbances. While much of the research on PCOS has focused on the hormonal and metabolic effects, the impact of PCOS on physical health, particularly muscle strength, has not been adequately studied. Previous studies suggest that hyperandrogenism may play a role in muscle strength, but the relationship between muscle function and PCOS in adolescents has not been well studied. Understanding this relationship is critical to improving health outcomes and managing the long-term effects of PCOS in adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate muscle strength in adolescent women with PCOS and its possible association with dietary habits, hormonal markers and metabolic factors such as hyperandrogenism. The study was conducted on 45 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and 44 healthy adolescents who presented to the adolescent outpatient clinic of our hospital between September 2022 and January 2023. PCOS in adolescents was diagnosed according to the Rotterdam Criteria 2018. Free testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), insulin, estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and 25-OH vitamin D were measured in serum. The free androgen index (FAI) and the homeostatic model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated. The groups were compared using data from the SCOFF scale, the Food Craving Questionnaire-Trait (FCQ-T), the Night Questionnaire, the Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R18). Hand grip strength was measured using the Jamar hand dynamometer for the dominant and non-dominant hand. The average age in the study and control groups was 17 years. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of age, body mass index (BMI) and lean BMI (p = 0.164, p = 0.074, p = 0.398). Muscle strength of the dominant hand was statistically higher in the PCOS group (p = 0.037). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in SCOFF, FCQ-T, NEQ and TFEQ-R18 scores (p > 0.05). In the regression analysis, free androgen index (FAI), anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) and 25-OH vitamin D were statistically effective in explaining the level of muscle strength (p < 0.001; <0.001; 0.006). Every 1 mg/L increase in AMH level leads to a 1.42–2.18 kg increase in muscle strength (p < 0.001), and every 1 unit increase in FAI leads to a 0.54–0.92 kg increase in muscle strength (p < 0.001). Our study shows that muscle strength of the dominant hand is higher in adolescent PCOS patients, emphasizing the importance of hyperandrogenism in the pathophysiology.