Evidence for Insulin Resistance in Nonobese Patients with Polycystic Ovarian Disease

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In this study seven normal weight Indian patients with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) with no evidence of acanthosis nigricans and 7 age- and weight-matched normal Indian women were studied to determine whether PCOD patients were insulin-resistant. While all 14 women had normal glucose tolerance, the PCOD women had significantly higher mean plasma glucose levels at 30 and 60 min and higher mean incremental glucose areas [incremental areas: PCOD, 9.0 ± 2.2 (±sem); normal women, 4.0 ± 0.8 mmol/L; P < 0.05]. Insulin responses were significantly higher in the PCOD compared to normal women (incremental areas: PCOD, 623.8 ± 78.3; normal women, 226.2 ± 30.3 μU/mL; P < 0.001). Both serum testosterone and androstenedione levels correlated with the insulin areas (r = 0.82; P < 0.001 and r = 0.86; P < 0.001, respectively). [125I] Insulin binding to erythrocytes revealed decreased maximum specific binding in the PCOD women (6.9 ± 0.6%) compared to that in normal women (9.2 ± 0.7%; P < 0.02). While Scatchard analysis revealed similar receptor numbers, ID50 values demonstrated decreased receptor affinity in the women with PCOD. In conclusion, in the absence of acanthosis nigricans, nonobese patients with PCOD are insulin resistant, and this insulin resistance correlates with the hyperandrogenism.