The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum concentrations of adrenal and ovarian androgens and sex hormone – binding globulin in obese women without additional diseases and in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome with and without insulin resistance.
Material and methods: The study group involved 73 obese women (39 with PCOS - A and 34 obese without additional diseases – B). The serum concentration of glucose and insulin were measured and the study group was divided on the basis of HOMA index into two subgroups: A I – PCO without insulin resistance (n = 18, mean age 27,2 ± 5,9 yr ; BMI 33,2 ± 3,5 kg/m²); AII - PCO with insulin resistance (n = 21, mean age 27,5 ± 7,1 yr; BMI 37,6 ± 6,5 kg/m²); B I – obese without insulin resistance (n = 8, age 33,5 ± 7,5 yr; BMI 35,2 ± 4,8 kg/m²); B II – obese with insulin resistance (n = 24, age 30,3 ± 5,2 yr; BMI 36,4 ± 5,8 kg/m²). Body mass and height were measured and body mass index was calculated with formula. Body composition was measured using bioimpedance method. The serum concentrations of FSH, LH, total and free testosterone, androstendione, DHEAS, SHBG and insulin were determined by RIA method and glucose was determined by enzymatic procedure.
Results: We observed significantly higher body mass, fat mass and BMI in AII subgroup when compared to AI, BI and BII subgroups. Only serum concentration of free testosterone was significantly higher in AII subgroup when compared to AI subgroup. We observed a positive correlation between serum concentrations of insulin and free testosterone in both groups A and B, moreover we observed positive correlations between serum concentrations of insulin and both DHEAS and LH in group B.
Conclusions: It seems that insulin resistance plays a key role in the development of hyperandrogenism in obese women. However mechanisms leading to hyperandrogenism in PCOS are still unrevealed and seem to be more complex.