Adiposity and metabolic dysfunction in polycystic ovary syndrome

Horm Mol Biol Clin Investig. 2015 Feb;21(2):107-16. doi: 10.1515/hmbci-2015-0008.

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal disorder among reproductive-age women and is associated with a high risk for metabolic disorders. Adiposity and insulin resistance are two prevalent conditions in PCOS and the likely culprits for the heightened metabolic risk. Up to 60% of women with PCOS are considered to be overweight or obese, and even among non-obese women with PCOS there is an increased accumulation of adipose tissue in abdominal depots. Insulin resistance in PCOS is unique and independent of obesity, as even non-obese women with this condition are frequently insulin resistant. However, obesity substantially aggravates the insulin resistance and the metabolic and reproductive abnormalities in women with PCOS. Recently, it has been shown that many aspects of adipose tissue function in PCOS are abnormal, and these abnormalities likely predispose to development of insulin resistance even in the absence of obesity. This review provides an overview of these abnormalities and their impact on development of metabolic disorders. At the end, an overview of the therapeutic options for management of adiposity and its complications in PCOS are discussed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adiposity*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Lipolysis
  • Metabolic Diseases / etiology
  • Metabolic Diseases / pathology*
  • Overweight / pathology
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / complications
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / pathology*