Visceral adiposity index as a predictor of clinical severity and therapeutic outcome of PCOS

Gynecol Endocrinol. 2016;32(3):177-83. doi: 10.3109/09513590.2015.1111327. Epub 2015 Nov 20.

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine-metabolic disease which often accompany with abnormal fat distribution. Visceral adiposity has association with abnormal lipid metabolic, pro-inflammatory activity, insulin resistance (IR) and hyperandrogenism. Increased visceral adiposity raises the risk of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular (CV) events, and aggravates ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism in PCOS women. Visceral adiposity index (VAI), a simple surrogate maker of visceral adipose dysfunction and visceral adiposity, is a predictor of IR, and link hyperinsulinemia, hyperandrogenism and anovulation. This review aims to discuss the visceral adiposity situation in PCOS women, and suggests that VAI may be a useful predictor of clinical severity and therapeutic outcome of PCOS.

Keywords: Adipose tissue dysfunction; insulin resistance; polycystic ovary syndrome; visceral adiposity index; visceral obesity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cardiovascular Diseases / complications
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperandrogenism / etiology
  • Inflammation / complications
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Intra-Abdominal Fat / physiopathology*
  • Menstruation Disturbances / etiology
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / complications
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / complications
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Severity of Illness Index