Smoking as a risk factor for the development of polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Objective. To study the prevalence of smoking among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), as well as to establish the relationship between intensity, duration of smoking and serum levels of manganese and nickel. Materials and methods. A questionnaire survey was performed in two groups of women: the control group (I) included 38 healthy women, and the second group included 52 women with PCOS. In both groups, serum levels of manganese and were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Statistical processing of the results of the survey was conducted using Statistika 8 software program. The U-Mann-Whitney test was used to assess the statistical significance of the obtained results. Comparison of the prevalence of smoking in both groups was performed using the parameter of statistical significance of differences for two relative values. Spearman coefficient was used for correlation analysis. Results. In women with PCOS, significantly higher manganese (p = 0.0012) and nickel (p = 0.0000) serum levels were found. In group I, 3 women reported smoking, in group II — 13 women. Among women with PCOS, the prevalence of smoking was significantly higher (p = 0.0000). Both groups differ neither in duration (p = 0.9463) nor in intensity of smoking (p = 0.7366). Duration and intensity of smoking were not associated with serum manganese. The intensity of smoking also did not affect serum levels of nickel. A positive correlation was found between serum nickel and the duration of smoking. Authors believe that during smoking manganese directly penetrates cerebral structures via olfactory rout. Only its small portion penetrates the bloodstream. This explains the high toxicity of manganese. Conclusion. Among women with PCOS smoking is much more common, however, the intensity and duration of smoking do not differ from the control group. Serum manganese levels are associated neither with duration nor with the intensity of smoking. Serum nickel levels are affected by the duration of smoking, rather than by the intensity of smoking. Keywords: polycystic ovary syndrome, intensity of smoking, duration of smoking, manganese, nickel.