Insulin resistance and overweight-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome

AIM: To estimate (1) the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) by fasting glucose: insulin ratio (G:I) (G:I <or= 4.5) in overweight-obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women, (2) to compare the clinical and biochemical parameters between insulin-resistant and insulin-sensitive groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-one overweight-obese PCOS women (body mass index (BMI) >or= 23 kg/m(2)) were studied. PCOS was diagnosed as per the Rotterdam 2003 criteria. BMI, abdominal circumference (AC), hirsutism (Ferriman Gallway score >or=6), presence of acne and acanthosis nigricans (AN) were noted in each case. Serum testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels were measured. RESULTS: 23.5% women were found to have IR. There were no differences in age, frequency of hirsutism, acne, serum testosterone and fasting glucose levels between insulin-resistant and insulin-sensitive women. However, there were significant differences in BMI, AC, frequency of AN, SHBG levels, fasting insulin levels and FAI between the two groups. CONCLUSION: PCOS women with IR are more obese; they have more upper body adiposity and AN. They are more hyperandrogenic. Simple clinical parameters will help to suspect IR in PCOS women.