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Endocrine Abstracts (2014) 35 P653 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.35.P653

1Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medical Sciences, Catholic University, Rome, Italy; 2Ciri-Hst, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; 3Department of Pharmacology and Biotechnology (Fabit), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.


It is well known that insulin resistance (IR) is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Oxidative stress (OS) is, in turn, related to IR, with a vicious cycle. PCOS patients presented higher circulating concentrations of oxidative stress products such as homocysteine, malondialdehyde, an increase of superoxide dismutase and reduction of antioxidants such as glutathione and paraoxonase-1 activity. Most studies however concerned obese PCOS subjects. The physiopathology of normal weight PCOS is more complex, even if IR is reported in such situation.

In order to investigate parameters of OS in normal weight PCOS and the relationships with hormonal and metabolic parameters, we have evaluated the concentrations of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a component of mitochondrial respiratory chain, also endowed with antioxidant properties, in plasma of PCOS patients (n=7, age 20–25 years, mean BMI 24.8±2.6) and normal menstruating women (n=7, age 20–25 years, mean BMI 22.0±2.5). Also malondialdheyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation, was evaluated. CoQ10 levels were determined by HPLC according to Takada et al. and MDA levels were determined spectrophotometrically at 535 nm by TBARS assay. Hormonal studies included evaluation of: TSH, fT3, fT4, IGF1, testosterone, DHEAS, androstenedione (by CLIA method) and HOMA index.

We did not find a significant difference in MDA (in PCOS patiens mean±ES: 7020±2474 pmol/ml vs 12380±2198.9 in controls) and CoQ10 (577.2±41.6 pmol/ml vs 495.6±38.8).

PCOS patients showed a trend toward a lower fT3 levels (2.8±0.07 vs 3.3±0.12 pg/ml) and higher IGF1 levels (303±9.3 vs 279.2±46.1 ng/ml).

These preliminary data suggest that OS is not simply related to IR in normal weight PCOS but there is a complex interplay between hormones influencing follicular growth. They need to be extended to furnish further insight into the mechanisms of hyperandrogenism in such a condition and to give a rationale for a therapeutic employment of antioxidants in PCOS.

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