Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Insight Into Pathogenesis and a Common Association With Insulin Resistance
June 2016
in “
Clinical Medicine
”
TLDR PCOS is often linked to insulin resistance and obesity, and weight loss can improve symptoms.
The 2016 document provides an overview of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), highlighting its common association with insulin resistance and obesity. It reports that 6-10% of premenopausal women are affected by PCOS, with 38-88% of these women being overweight or obese. Insulin resistance is present in 50-90% of women with PCOS and is a key factor in the condition's development, leading to reproductive and metabolic complications. The document suggests that weight loss, even as little as 5%, can improve PCOS symptoms by enhancing insulin sensitivity. It also discusses the metabolic diversity among PCOS patients and the limited role of visceral fat in the condition's insulin resistance. The authors propose that future treatments should focus on weight loss and insulin sensitivity improvement, mentioning their research on brown adipose tissue (BAT) as a potential therapeutic target. The conclusion emphasizes the need for new weight-loss strategies to aid in the management of PCOS.