Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder, characterized by hyperandrogenism and chronic anovulation. Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are well-documented features of the disease. In obese PCOS patients, family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (FH-DM) is shown to be related with a decrease in insulin sensitivity, however not much is known about lean PCOS cases. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between FH-DM and insulin resistance in lean PCOS subjects.

Methods: Nineteen lean PCOS patients (mean body mass index-BMI: 23.06±2.71 kg/m²) were recruited into the study. Subjects were separated into two groups regarding their FH-DM status. Mean age, BMI and metabolic syndrome parameters were similar between the FH-DM negative (n=10) and FH-DM positive (n=9) groups. Insulin sensitivity was evaluated by using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance; HOMA-IR formula and the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp method from which insulin sensitivity was derived from glucose disposal rate expressed as mg/kg per min and indicated as ‘M’ index.

Results: Mean M value of the whole group was 5.97±1.58. Mean HOMA-IR and M values of the FH-DM positive and FH-DM negative groups exhibited insignificant difference; 2.02±0.86 vs 1.98±1.11 and 5.41±1.20 vs 6.48±1.77, respectively (P>0.05).

Conclusion: In this study, we found insignificant difference regarding insulin sensitivity markers among lean PCOS cases with and without a family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus. We propose that a positive FH-DM had no impact on insulin sensitivity in lean PCOS subjects.