Islets of Langerhans Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia

PURPOSE: to evaluate the effect of obesity on beta-cell function in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: this cross-section study evaluated 82 patients with PCOS selected consecutively, at the moment of the diagnosis. We compared 31 PCOS obese women (BMI >30 kg/m²) to 51 age-matched PCOS nonobese patients (BMI <30 kg/m²). Using fasting glucose and insulin levels, homeostatic model assessment values for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR and QUICKI) and percent beta-cell function (HOMA-%beta-cell) were calculated. As secondary variables, the age at PCOS diagnosis, age of menarche, hormonal levels (testosterone, prolactin, FSH and LH), total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were also analyzed. RESULTS: menarche was significantly earlier in obese PCOS patients (11.7±1.8 years) than in nonobese patients (12.67±1.86 years) (p<0.05). Obese patients presented lower LH levels (7.9±5 mIU/mL) than did nonobese patients (10.6±6 mIU/mL) (p<0.05). Both groups presented mean HDL cholesterol levels below 50 mg/dL. Obese patients presented significantly higher baseline insulin levels (32.5±25.2 mIU/mL) and fasting blood glucose levels (115.9±40.7 mg/dL) than did nonobese patients (8.8±6.6 mIU/mL and 90.2±8.9 mg/dL, respectively) (p<0.01). Of the obese PCOS patients, 93% presented insulin resistance versus 25% of nonobese PCOS patients (p<0.01). Eighty-six perecent of the obese women had hyperfunction of beta-cell versus 41% of nonobese with PCOS (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: obese PCOS patients presented higher prevalence of insulin resistance and hyperfunction of beta-cell than did nonobese PCOS patients.