Abstract
BackgroundPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is related to metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular metabolic syndromes. This is particularly true for individuals with central and abdominal obesity because visceral abdominal adipose tissue (VAAT) and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) produce a large number of proinflammatory and proatherogenic cytokines. The present study aimed to determine whether there are changes in VAAT and EAT levels which were considered as indirect predictors for subclinical atherosclerosis in lean patients with PCOS.MethodsThe clinical and demographic characteristics of 35 patients with PCOS and 38 healthy control subjects were recorded for the present study. Additionally, the serum levels of various biochemical parameters were measured and EAT levels were assessed using 2D-transthoracic echocardiography.ResultsThere were no significant differences in mean age (p = 0.056) or mean body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.446) between the patient and control groups. However, the body fat percentage, waist-to-hip ratio, amount of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue, and VAAT thickness were higher in the PCOS patient group than in the control group. The amounts of EAT in the patient and control groups were similar (p = 0.384). EAT was correlated with BMI, fat mass, waist circumference, and hip circumference but not with any biochemical metabolic parameters including the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index or the levels of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. However, there was a small positive correlation between the amounts of VAAT and EAT. VAAT was directly correlated with body fat parameters such as BMI, fat mass, and abdominal subcutaneous adipose thickness and inversely correlated with the HDL cholesterol level.ConclusionsThe present study found that increased abdominal adipose tissue in patients with PCOS was associated with atherosclerosis. Additionally, EAT may aid in the determination of the risk of atherosclerosis in patients with PCOS because it is easily measured.
Highlights
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is related to metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular metabolic syndromes
Visceral abdominal adipose tissue (VAAT) surrounds the internal organs, and increased amounts of visceral abdominal adipose tissue (VAAT) are more important than increased levels of subcutaneous fat in terms of the risks of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular mortality [6]
There were no significant differences in the mean age (p = 0.056) or mean body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.446) between the patient and control groups, but the body fat percentage, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), amount of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue, and VAAT thickness were higher in the patient group
Summary
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is related to metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular metabolic syndromes This is true for individuals with central and abdominal obesity because visceral abdominal adipose tissue (VAAT) and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) produce a large number of proinflammatory and proatherogenic cytokines. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT), located between the myocardium and visceral epicardium, respectively, are derived from the same origin [7] This is important because both of these body fat tissues produce large numbers of proinflammatory and proatherogenic cytokines [8, 9]. The present study aimed to determine whether there are changes in the amounts of VAAT and EAT in lean patients with PCOS compared with healthy control subjects
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