Aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation in obese, insulin resistant and vitamin D deficient PCOS women on biochemical and clinical hyperandrogenism and menstrual irregularity in comparison to effect of metformin or combined metformin plus vitamin D therapy. Thirty nine PCOS women were randomized into three groups and treated with alfacalcidiol (Group 1), combined alfacalcidiol and metformin therapy (Group 2) and metformin (Group 3) for 6 months. Serum TST, fTST, DHEAS, LH and LH/FSH were measured before and after six months of treatment. Menstrual cycle regularity, hirsutism, acne and pregnancy rate were assessed at the same time. There was a significant decrease in TST levels in the Group 2 and slight but not significant decrease in the Group 3. No significant changes in other parameters (fTST, DHEAS, LH, LH/FSH) have been found after 6 months therapy in all three groups. An improvement of menstrual cycle was detected in 78 % of patients in Group 1 (p<0.04), 80 % in the Group 2 (p<0.03) and in 90 % in the Group 3 (p<0.002), respectively. There was no significant improvement of acne and hirsutism in all three groups (all p not significant). Pregnancy rate was higher in the Group 3 as compared with Groups 1 and 2 (67 % vs. 0 % and 25 %, respectively), however without statistical significance. Vitamin D administration has no significant effect on androgen levels and clinical features of hyperandrogenism in obese vitamin D deficient PCOS women. However, it can potentiate effect of metformin on testosterone levels and LH/FSH ratio but not on clinical hyperandrogenism and pregnancy rate.

Background. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is commonly associated with endocrine, metabolic, cardiovascular and other morbidities. However its association with autoimmune diseases is still controversial. Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of non organ-specific and antithyroid, antibodies in PCOS women compared to healthy controls. Methods. The study included 152 women with PCOS and 76 healthy controls for the evaluation of non organ-specific autoimmunity and 64 PCOS and 68 controls for the study of organ-specific autoimmunity. All sera were tested for autoantibodies.using the ELISA method.Results. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of ANA, SSA, SSB, anti-dsDNA, anti-RNP, ANCA/MPO or ANCA/PR3 between PCOS and controls. The prevalence of ACLA IgG was higher in controls than PCOS (5.4% v.s. 0%, P=0.011). Patients had a higher prevalence of anti-TPO antibodies (18.75% v.s. 7.35%, P=0.045) and slightly but not significantly higher prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis (18.75% v.s. 10.29%) than controls. Conclusion. The prevalence of non organ-specific autoantibodies in PCOS women is low and similar to controls. On the other hand, we found a slightly higher prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity in PCOS women.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is commonly associated with a higher cardiometabolic risk. The relationship between steroid hormones and cardiometabolic profile in PCOS has been evaluated, but no single hormonal predictor of this association has been identified to determine. To determine the relationship between steroid hormones and cardiometabolic risk factors in PCOS women. Study included 64 women diagnosed with PCOS. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for biochemical, metabolic parameters and sex steroid hormones. PCOS women with BMI≥27 had significantly higher serum free testosterone (FT), free androgen index (FAI), estrone (E1) (p=0.014, p=0.02, p=0.01) than those with normal weight. In all subjects E1 positively correlated with BMI (p=0.0067), serum insulin (p=0.0046), HOMA-IR (p=0.0125) and negatively with HDL-cholesterol (p=0.009). FAI positively correlated with serum cholesterol (p=0.0457), triacylglycerols (TAG) (p=0.0001), HOMA-IR (p=0.037), and glycemia (p=0.0001), negatively with HDL-cholesterol (p=0.029). In multiple linear regression model E1 most significantly predicted HOMA-IR, whereas FT/FAI predicted HDL-cholesterol and BMI. We conclude that PCOS women with marked overweight or obesity have higher FT, FAI and E1 as compared with nonobese PCOS subjects. E1 and FT may predict worse cardiometabolic profile in PCOS.

Insulin resistance and other metabolic abnormalities in PCOS women seem to be related to PCOS rather than to vitamin D deficiency.

Objectives There is a growing evidence indicating an impact of endocrine distrupting chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) on human reproduction. Its higher levels in serum or urine have been documented in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), however the relationship to ovarian steroidogenesis remains unclear. Aim of the study was to compare urinary BPA (U-BPA) concentrations among PCOS women and control group. Second aim was to assess the relationship of U-BPA to ovarian steroidogenesis in the group with PCOS. Methods Eighty six Caucasian women (age 28.5 ± 5.1 years) diagnosed with PCOS and 32 controls of age 24.9 ± 4.4 years were included in the study. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for biochemical parameters and steroid hormones. U-BPA was measured in the morning urine sample using high pressure liquid chromatography. Results PCOS women had significantly higher U-BPA as compared with control group (p=0.0001). Those with high levels of U-BPA (U-BPA ≥2.14 ug/g creatinine) demonstrated higher serum insulin (p=0.029) and HOMA IR (p=0.037), lower serum estrone (p=0.05), estradiol (p=0.0126), FSH (p=0.0056), and FAI (p=0.0088), as compared with low-BPA group (U- BPA <2.14 ug/g creatinine). In PCOS women, U-BPA positively correlated with age (p=0.0026; R2=0.17), negatively with estradiol (p=0.0001, R2=0.5), testosterone (p=0.0078, R2=0.15), free-testosterone (p=0.0094, R2=0.12) and FAI (p=0.0003, R2=0.32), respectively. Conclusions PCOS women have significantly higher U-BPA concentrations than healthy controls. U-BPA positively correlates with age and negatively with ovarian steroid hormones suggesting a possible suppressive effect of bisphenol A on ovarian steroidogenesis.