Metabolic and Hormonal Profile of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Current Update and Future Prospects

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Endocrinology and Clinical Metabolic Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2023) | Viewed by 10508

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Interests: congenital adrenal hyperplasia; disorder of sex development; Turner syndrome; PCOS
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Interests: hyperandrogenism; PCOS; metabolic disorders; thyroid disorders

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as the most common cause of hyperandrogenism is difficult and controversial but extremely important due to the long-term consequences of the syndrome. It is a disease that affects many processes in the human body, and not only those directly related to the symptoms of PCOS, as well as increasing the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. The early presence of traditional as well as other cardiovascular risk factors underscores the need for screening and the appropriate counseling and treatment of patients to prevent future symptomatic cardiovascular diseases.

This Special Issue of Metabolites, entitled “Metabolic and Hormonal Profile of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome”, aims to better understand the hormonal and metabolic profile of women with PCOS, and thus provide additional information about the possible and more frequent occurrence of comorbidities, indicating possible complications and risks from them. It is important to adopt a broad perspective of the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome among adolescent girls, as it is a problem that affects a significant percentage of teenagers and women of reproductive age; at the same time, it is a syndrome whose diagnosis and treatment has a significant impact in terms of quality of life, fertility and complications resulting from concomitant metabolic disorders in adulthood. With regard to the most up-to-date reports we invite you to publish papers on this topic, which may help to better understand the etiopathlogy, improving the rules of diagnosis and causal treatment.

Prof. Dr. Aneta Gawlik
Dr. Karolina Skrzyńska
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • polycystic ovary syndrome
  • metabolic disorders
  • cardiovascular diseases
  • microbiota
  • hyperandrogenism
  • immunity

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 270 KiB  
Article
Autoimmune Processes and Chronic Inflammation as Independent Risk Factors for Metabolic Complications in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
by Katarzyna Suchta, Natalia Zeber-Lubecka, Monika Grymowicz, Roman Smolarczyk, Maria Kulecka and Ewa E. Hennig
Metabolites 2025, 15(3), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15030141 - 20 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1127
Abstract
Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) have a high prevalence in women of reproductive age. PCOS can lead to long-term adverse health effects such as obesity, diabetes, and increased metabolic and cardiovascular risk. Although it is known that subclinical [...] Read more.
Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) have a high prevalence in women of reproductive age. PCOS can lead to long-term adverse health effects such as obesity, diabetes, and increased metabolic and cardiovascular risk. Although it is known that subclinical and clinical hypothyroidism may also worsen body mass index (BMI), lipid profile, and metabolic risk, there are few studies on the impact of elevated thyroid autoantibodies alone and associated chronic inflammation on metabolic complications in women with PCOS. The main aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of AITD among Polish women with PCOS and the metabolic impact of the co-occurrence of both diseases in euthyroid individuals. The additional aim was a review of the literature on the prevalence of co-occurrence of PCOS and AITD and the metabolic consequences of this condition. Methods: A total of 424 women aged 16–46 years were recruited into the study—230 women diagnosed with PCOS and 194 women diagnosed with PCOS and co-occurrence of euthyroid AITD. Before participating in the study, patients signed a written informed consent. The study was approved by the local ethics committee. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics (v.25). A mini-review of the literature was performed using the PubMed database. Results: Women with co-occurrence of PCOS and euthyroid AITD had statistically significantly higher serum levels of total cholesterol (189.57 mg/dL vs. 180.16 mg/dL; p = 0.005; d Cohen’s = −0.278), LDL-cholesterol (109.80 mg/dL vs. 102.01 mg/dL; p = 0.009; d Cohen’s = −0.256), and triglycerides (107.77 mg/dL vs. 96.82 mg/dL; p = 0.027; d Cohen’s = −0.219) compared to women with PCOS. The difference was observed regardless of body weight. BMI was also statistically significantly higher in the PCOS-AITD group (27.55 kg/m2 vs. 25.46 kg/m2; p = 0.003; d Cohen’s = −0.319), as was the prevalence of obesity (32.5% vs. 20.7%; Chi-square = 7.956; p = 0.047). The mini-review of the literature did not find many studies evaluating the impact of thyroid autoantibodies on metabolic outcomes in PCOS euthyroid women, and the data are still inconclusive. Conclusions: The presence of elevated serum concentrations of thyroid autoantibodies in euthyroid women with PCOS increases the risk of obesity and metabolic consequences. It is observed even in euthyroid and non-obese individuals. Consequently, the cardiovascular risk in these women may be higher than in PCOS women without elevated thyroid autoantibodies. It is important to assess thyroid autoantibodies in all women with PCOS. In euthyroid PCOS women with co-occurrence of elevated serum levels of thyroid autoantibodies, it is crucial to pay more attention to maintaining an appropriate body mass index. There is an urgent need for further studies in large groups of women assessing the impact of elevated thyroid autoantibodies alone on metabolic outcomes in euthyroid women with PCOS to confirm and clarify the results. Full article
11 pages, 274 KiB  
Article
Comparing the Efficacy of Myo-Inositol Plus α-Lactalbumin vs. Myo-Inositol Alone on Reproductive and Metabolic Disturbances of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
by Zdravko Kamenov, Antoaneta Gateva, Simona Dinicola and Vittorio Unfer
Metabolites 2023, 13(6), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13060717 - 31 May 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3684
Abstract
Despite the beneficial effect of myo-inositol on metabolic, hormonal, and reproductive parameters of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients, 28% to 38% could be resistant to this treatment. The combination with the milk protein α-lactalbumin can be a useful therapeutic approach to overcome inositol [...] Read more.
Despite the beneficial effect of myo-inositol on metabolic, hormonal, and reproductive parameters of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients, 28% to 38% could be resistant to this treatment. The combination with the milk protein α-lactalbumin can be a useful therapeutic approach to overcome inositol resistance and achieve ovulation in these women. This open-label prospective study aimed to compare the effects of supplementing myo-inositol plus α-lactalbumin vs myo-inositol alone on reproductive and metabolic abnormalities in PCOS. A total of 50 anovulatory women with a PCOS diagnosis were randomly assigned to receive myo-inositol alone or a combination of myo-inositol and α-lactalbumin for three months. Anthropometric measures, hormonal levels, and menstrual cycle duration were collected at baseline and after treatment. The therapy with myo-inositol plus α-lactalbumin improved both ovulation rate and menstrual cycle duration more than myo-inositol alone. The body weight was significantly reduced in women receiving myo-inositol plus α-lactalbumin, while patients in the myo-inositol group experienced no change. In addition, the improvement of hyperandrogenism was more prominent in patients treated with myo-inositol plus α-lactalbumin. The benefits of associating myo-inositol and α-lactalbumin clearly make this combination a true edge in the management of PCOS. Full article
12 pages, 952 KiB  
Article
Correlation between Selected Clinical Symptoms and Severity of Aggression, Impulsiveness and Their Selected Behavioral Manifestations in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Phenotype A
by Aleksandra Barabasz-Gembczyk, Wojciech Mędrala, Patryk Rodek, Barbara Alli-Balogun, Jan Chrobak, Marlena Cwynar, Dominika Sikora, Mariusz Wójtowicz, Grzegorz Franik, Paweł Madej and Krzysztof Kucia
Metabolites 2023, 13(5), 646; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13050646 - 9 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2068
Abstract
Previous studies on aggressiveness and impulsiveness in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are ambiguous. Furthermore, no biochemical or clinical factors related to these variables have been definitively confirmed. The aim of the study was to clarify whether, in women with phenotype A [...] Read more.
Previous studies on aggressiveness and impulsiveness in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are ambiguous. Furthermore, no biochemical or clinical factors related to these variables have been definitively confirmed. The aim of the study was to clarify whether, in women with phenotype A of PCOS, variables such as body mass index and clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenism have an impact on either the intensity of impulsivity or aggression or on other selected behavioral manifestations of these variables. The study included 95 patients diagnosed with PCOS phenotype A. The criterion for recruitment into the study group and the control group was body mass index. The study was conducted with the use of a closed-format questionnaire and calibrated clinical scales. Higher body mass index (BMI) values in women with PCOS phenotype A are associated with poor eating habits. The severity of impulsivity and aggression syndrome, as well as the tendency to engage in risky sexual behavior and patterns of alcohol consumption among patients diagnosed with PCOS phenotype A, are not dependent on BMI. The severity of impulsiveness and the syndrome of aggression in women with phenotype A PCOS are not associated with clinical symptoms of hyperandrogenism or with androgen levels. Full article
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16 pages, 5969 KiB  
Article
Impaired Carbohydrate Metabolism and Excess of Lipid Accumulation in Offspring of Hyperandrogenic Mice
by Cynthia Aburto-Hernández, David Barrera, Rosario Ortiz-Hernández, Emilio Espinoza-Simón, Leticia Parra-Gámez, James González, M Luisa Escobar, Gerardo H Vázquez-Nin, Olga Echeverría-Martínez and Nayeli Torres-Ramírez
Metabolites 2022, 12(12), 1182; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12121182 - 26 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2414
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine–metabolic disorder of unknown etiology. Hyperandrogenism (HA) is the main diagnostic criteria for PCOS, in addition to being a risk factor for developing several disorders throughout the patient’s life, including pregnancy. However, the impact on offspring is [...] Read more.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine–metabolic disorder of unknown etiology. Hyperandrogenism (HA) is the main diagnostic criteria for PCOS, in addition to being a risk factor for developing several disorders throughout the patient’s life, including pregnancy. However, the impact on offspring is little known. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of maternal HA on glucose metabolism and hepatic lipid accumulation in adult offspring. We used Balb/c mice treated with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) for 20 consecutive days. The ovary of DHEA-treated mice showed hemorrhagic bodies, an increased number of atretic follicles, and greater expression of genes related to meiotic cell cycle and DNA repair. The DHEA offspring (O-DHEA) had low birth weight, and some pups showed malformations. However, O-DHEA individuals gained weight rapidly, and the differences between them and the control group became significantly greater in adulthood. Moreover, O-DHEA presented higher serum glucose after a 6 h fast and a larger area under glucose, insulin, and pyruvate tolerance test curves. Oil Red O staining showed a more significant accumulation of fat in the liver but no changes in serum cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels. In summary, our results show that HA, induced by DHEA, affects gene expression in oocyte, which in turn generates defects in embryonic development, insulin resistance, and alteration in hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipid metabolism in O-DHEA, thereby increasing the risk of developing metabolic diseases. Full article
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