Lipoprotein Lipid Concentrations and Cardiovascular Risk in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

Twenty-nine patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and 30 normal women had lipoprotein lipid and androgen profiles compared after a 12-h fast. Both PCOS and normal women were evaluated in the proliferative phase of the cycle. PCOS patients had higher serum LH to FSH ratios [2.0 +/- 1.3 (+/- SEM) vs. 0.6 +/- 0.1), higher testosterone (T; 66 +/- 5 vs. 33 +/- 2 ng/ml), higher free T (1.1 +/- 1 vs. 0.4 +/- 0.02 ng/dl), and higher dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (291 +/- 28 vs. 140 +/- 12 micrograms/dl) levels, and lower T-estrogen-binding globulin-binding capacity (1.5 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.2 +/- 0.1 micrograms/dl) than normal women (all P less than 0.05). The PCOS patients had higher mean serum triglycerides [122 +/- 11 (+/- SEM) 63 +/- 3 mg/dl] and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (24 +/- 2 vs. 13 +/- 1 mg/dl), but lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (43 +/- 2 vs. 58 +/- 2 mg/dl; P less than 0.05). While PCOS patients were heavier and more sedentary and their diets were higher in saturated fat and lower in fiber (P less than 0.01, respectively), the differences in lipoprotein lipid concentrations could not be attributed to body weight. T-estrogen-binding globulin-binding capacity correlated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol in PCOS patients (r = 0.42; P = 0.025) after adjusting for weight. We conclude that hyperandrogenemia in women may result in a male pattern of lipoprotein lipid concentrations. These findings suggest that PCOS patients may have increased atherogenic potential.

Obesity and the polycystic ovary syndrome

“…5,70 In some reports PCOS women were found to have a higher intake of saturated lipids and a lower intake of fibers when compared Obesity and the polycystic ovary syndrome A Gambineri et al to control groups. 71 Low-fiber and high-lipid intake has been considered one of the nutritional factors which favour the onset and development of obesity in industrialized countries. 72 Therefore, it can be speculated that a low-fiber -high-lipid diet may act negatively on sex steroid metabolism in selected groups of PCOS women, by increasing androgen availability and by favouring the development of obesity.…”

Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism and polycystic ovary syndrome patients in Western Anatolia, Turkey

“…PCOS patients have an atherogenic lipid profile characterized by lower highdensity lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and/or HDL 2 cholesterol levels, and higher triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels than the age-and weight-matched control women [18]. Thus, the presence of abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia predispose women with PCOS to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) [19].…”

The polycystic ovary syndrome: an example of obesity-related cardiovascular complication affecting young women

“…Infatti, diverse evidenze mostrano una relazione tra malattia cardiaca e PCOS e rischio CV, cioè dislipidemia [49], insulino-resistenza (50), LVM (massa ventricolare sinistra) aumentata [51] e disfunzione diastolica del ventricolo sinistro [51,19].…”

“…Poichè l'insulina è il maggiore regolatore positivo delle lipoproteine lipasi coinvolte nella via metabolica di HCL-C, la dislipidemia è, probabilmente, secondaria all'insulino-resistenza, mentre l'iperandrogenismo può interessare lipoproteine e lipidi indipendentemente dai livelli di insulina e dal peso corporeo [49].…”

“…L'iperandrogenismo nelle donne con PCOS può risultare come un quadro di lipoproteine nei maschi, suggerendo un potenziale aterogenico aumentato in pazienti con PCOS [49]. Inoltre molti Autori [60] hanno evidenziato una compromissione delle proprietà visco-elastiche della carotide, fornendo una ulteriore prova di disfunzione vascolare nelle donne con questa sindrome.…”