INSULIN RESISTANCE IN POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME

Objective: To assess the relationship between obesity and insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome affected women. Study Design: Cross sectional comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Multidisciplinary Lab-I of Department of Biochemistry, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, in collaboration with Pakistan Naval Ship Hafeez Hospital, Islamabad from Feb 2018 to Jan 2019. Methodology: One hundred and five selected females (puberty till 25 years of age) were divided into three groups of 35 each. Blood samples were collected an overnight fast (from 8-11 AM). Serum level of insulin was measured and insulin resistance was calculated based on Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Results: Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance concentrations correlated directly with basal metabolic index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose and serum insulin levels. Mean serum insulin level was also elevated in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (normal weight & overweight) as compared to control subjects (7.4 ± 1.2 mIU/L & 9.1 ± 0.8 mIU/L vs 6.3 ± 1.1 mIU/L; p as 0.003). The insulin resistance was slightly higher in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome as compared to the control subjects (1.4 ± 0.3 & 1.7 ± 0.2 vs. 1.1 ± 0.3; p<0.001). Conclusion: Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance levels are positively associated with basal metabolic index, the intensity of peripheral insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome-affected females, indicating that normal weight, and overweight patients with polycystic ovary syndrome have tendency towards insulin resistance.