Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Unraveling the Minor Shifts in Fatty Acid Composition of Follicular Fluid Phospholipids and Triglycerides.

Abstract

The effect of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on the fatty acid (FA) content of follicular fluid (FF) is not fully understood. The present study aimed to determine whether the FA composition of FF phospholipids (PLs) and triglycerides (TGs) undergoes alterations in women with PCOS. A total of 40 subjects, including 20 PCOS patients and 20 controls, were enrolled. Thin-layer chromatography followed by gas chromatography was carried out to isolate FF lipid fractions and measure relative concentrations of their FAs, respectively. Percentages of individual FAs in FF PLs and TGs did not statistically differ between the control and PCOS groups (p > 0.05), other than palmitoleic acid, which significantly decreased and increased in PLs and TGs of women with PCOS, respectively (p < 0.05). There were positive correlations between intrafollicular levels of androgens and PL levels of several n-6 polyunsaturated FAs in the PCOS group (r > 0.4, p < 0.05). In addition, relative concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid in both PL and TG fractions were inversely correlated with the fertilization rate (r < -0.4, p < 0.05). PCOS women with positive pregnancy outcomes also had higher PL and TG stearic acid with concomitant lower docosahexaenoic acid and peroxidizability index in PL and TG fractions, respectively (p < 0.05). It could be concluded that PCOS was associated with minor alterations in the FA composition of FF PLs and TGs. Furthermore, there were differential fraction-dependent associations between FF FA profile and biochemical and reproductive parameters in women with PCOS.