Key result
In Saudi women, C-reactive protein was the only independent predictor of plasma IL-6 levels (β = 0.217; 95% CI 0.049-0.275; p=0.005), and PCOS patients had significantly higher IL-6 than controls.
Why the study?
It remained unclear whether high circulatory levels of inflammatory markers in PCOS are related to PCOS itself or are a function of abdominal adiposity.
Case-Control (n=164)
Effect estimate: β = 0.217 (95% CI 0.049-0.275)
p-value: p=0.005
In Saudi women with PCOS, central obesity and inflammatory factors coexist, with hs-CRP being an independent predictor of plasma IL-6 levels.
IL-6 elevation linked to CRP in PCOS warrants clinical caution; hypothesis-generating for inflammation pathways pending larger prospective studies.
Our aim was to investigate the relationship between plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels with different measures of central obesity among Saudi women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). One hundred and sixty-four Saudi females, between 22 and 38 years of age, with and without PCOS were enrolled in this case-control study. Physical examination and laboratory tests were completed for every subject. 2/3 of the study population were obese. Fasting serum insulin, plasma IL-6 levels and insulin resistance show significant increase among POCS than the controls (p<.05). Based on linear regression analysis, C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was the only independent predictor of plasma IL-6 levels, accounting for 4% of the variability in plasma IL-6 (β = 0.217, p=.005, 95% CI: 0.049–0.275). Coexistence of metabolic and inflammatory factors in PCOS females is accompanied by central obesity which overpowers the effect of insulin resistance, contributing to higher plasma levels of IL-6 and CRP.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a cluster of many cardiovascular risk factors, but is also known as an inflammatory condition. Insulin resistance and abdominal obesity are classic components of PCOS. High circulatory levels of inflammatory markers in PCOS patients have been reported but it remains unclear whether their elevation is related to PCOS itself, or are a function of abdominal adiposity.What the results of this study add? The relationship between plasma interleukin-6 levels and different measures of central obesity was investigated among Saudi women with and without PCOS. Elevations of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory markers were reported in PCOS patients independently of insulin resistance. It remains to be established whether the proinflammatory state in PCOS is primarily due to inflamed adipose tissue.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The present study demonstrates that coexistence of metabolic and inflammatory factors in PCOS females are accompanied by central obesity which overpowers the effect of insulin resistance, contributing to higher plasma levels of IL-6 and CRP. Future studies including a larger population are needed to investigate the mechanisms by which IL-6 and hs-CRP promote cardiovascular risk in PCOS patients.
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Alissa et al. (2020) conducted a case-control in Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) (n=164). Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) vs. Women without PCOS was evaluated on Predictors of plasma IL-6 levels (β = 0.217, 95% CI 0.049-0.275, p=0.005). In Saudi women, C-reactive protein was the only independent predictor of plasma IL-6 levels (β = 0.217; 95% CI 0.049-0.275; p=0.005), and PCOS patients had significantly higher IL-6 than controls.
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