Is Xanthine Oxidase Activity in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Associated with Inflammatory and Cardiovascular Risk Factors?

The 2016 cross-sectional study with 45 PCOS patients and 38 healthy controls found that women with PCOS had higher xanthine oxidase (XO) activity, which was positively correlated with inflammatory markers and cardiovascular risk factors such as triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin, and insulin resistance. Conversely, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was decreased in PCOS patients. The study concluded that XO could be a useful marker for oxidative stress in PCOS and may play a significant role in the condition's pathogenesis and associated metabolic complications.