Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The objective of the study was to compare distributions of subcutaneous adipose tissue and metabolic parameters in lean women with PCOS and lean healthy women.

Materials and methods: PCOS women (according to Rotterdam criteria, mean age 26.54±3.65 years) and 70 healthy control women (mean age 27.84±3.63 years) were investigated in Vilnius city (Lithuania) in 2009–2011. A skinfold caliper device was used to measure skinfolds thickness in 13 sites (biceps, triceps, midaxillary, subscapular, chest, abdominal, suprailiac, thigh, knee and calf). Height, body mass and waist circumference were measured. Bioelectrical impedance analysis using Genius 220 was performed to measure fat mass. Glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and lipids tests were assessed by standard techniques.

Results: BMI (21.10±2.02 vs 21.05±1.65 kg/m², P=0.876) and waist circumference (69.03±4.94 vs 68.73±4.44 cm, P=0.689) did not differ between PCOS and control groups.

Fat mass in lean women with PCOS was higher by 8.92 kg than in controls (P<0.0001). In women with PCOS arms’ skinfolds (triceps by 2.42 mm, biceps by 5.49 mm and forearm by 2.36 mm) and trunk skinfolds (suprailiac by 4.36 mm and subscapular by 2.51 mm) were thicker than in the controls (P<0.05). The arm-to-leg and trunk-to-arm skinfolds’ ratios confirmed predisposition to accumulate adipose tissue in the upper part of the body in women with PCOS.

Fasting glycaemia and glycaemia 2 hours after of 75 g glucose intake, triglycerides and total cholesterol-to-HDL ratio was higher, but HDL was lower in PCOS women than in the controls (P<0.05). Fasting insulin level, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, LDL and CRP level in PCOS and control women were similar (P>0.05).

Conclusions: Adipose tissue in PCOS women tends to accumulate in the upper part of the body: on arms and trunk – which may be the distinguishing feature of PCOS women.