Tuesday, 23 December 2025

Assessment of Insulin Resistance in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome | Chapter 6 | Chemistry and Biochemistry: Research Progress Vol. 8

 

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex, multifactorial endocrine disorder affecting 5%- 10% of all women of reproductive age. Insulin resistance (IR), a subnormal target tissue response to a given amount of insulin, is a common feature, but not a diagnostic criterion of PCOS. Due to the severe consequences PCOS exerts on the health and lifestyle of the affected women and IR adding upon those risks, it is of utmost importance to unravel the intricate pathophysiologic cross-link between PCOS and IR.

 

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the intricate pathophysiologic cross-link between PCOS and IR. To determine if Homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) & Glucose insulin ratio (G:I) can be used as a simple marker to identify PCOS patients at risk for Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) and Type II diabetes mellitus (DM).

 

Methodology: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry in collaboration with the Gynaecology & Obstetrics Department, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru. It was done over a period of 6 months from February 2015 to July 2015. The study was conducted with 85 women, 45 PCOS cases (USG diagnosed) and 40 controls (with regular menstrual cycle) in the age group of 20-40 years. Insulin resistance indices, namely, Fasting Insulin, Glucose insulin ratio (G:I) and Homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) were calculated from the values of Fasting blood sugar and fasting Insulin estimated by Chemiluminiscence immunoassay. Cases and controls were further subdivided based on age as Group I (20-30 yrs) and Group II (31-40 yrs).

 

Results: Fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin, G:I and HOMA were significantly higher (P = 0.0137, 0.0018, 0.0475 and 0.0047, respectively) in cases than in controls. IR was found in 31 out of 45 (68.88%) by the G:I ratio, 26 out of 45 (57.77%) cases by HOMA (<2.5) and 15 out of 45 (33.33%) by Fasting Insulin. There was no significant difference between cases and controls with respect to age, BMI and waist circumference (P = 0.7342, 0.3538 and 0.4841, respectively). When the cases were subdivided, BMI was significantly higher (P 0.0001) in Group II as compared to Group I. IR markers like Fasting insulin, and HOMA were higher in Group I compared to Group II, but not statistically significant.

 

Conclusion: Fasting Insulin, HOMA and G:I can be used as a simple, practical and effective marker to identify PCOS patients who are at risk of Type II DM. The data suggests that patients having Fasting Insulin > 20 IU, HOMA >2.5 & G:I < 4.5 should be closely monitored and considered as high risk for Type II DM. Since this study was cross-sectional, a longitudinal study as a prospective cohort study, is needed to evaluate the predictive value of HOMA and G:I ratios for future development of IGT and type II diabetes in PCOS patients. Additionally, as the research was conducted at a single centre with a small sample size, future studies should involve larger, multicenter cohorts to further explore the intricate pathophysiologic relationship between PCOS and insulin resistance.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Montey Naruka
Department of Biochemistry, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore, India.

 

S. M. R. Usha
Department of Biochemistry, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore, India.

 

B. M. Rupakala
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore, India.

 

P. Vijaya Lakshmi
Department of Biochemistry, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore, India.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/cbrp/v8/6710

 

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