Endocrine Abstracts

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting 7–18% of women of reproductive age, according to different criteria. Metabolic disturbances related to PCOS include dyslipidemia, obesity, and insulin resistance (IR) and women with PCOS have higher prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus in comparison with weight-matched women without the syndrome. Evidence indicates that regular practice of physical activity improves insulin resistance in general population. Habitual physical activity is defined as any form of body movement with energy expenditure above resting levels, including work, leisure activities, and household chores. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether habitual physical activity is associated with less insulin resistance in women with PCOS. One hundred and four participants, 61 PCOS, by the Rotterdam criteria, and 43 control women, were stratified according to physical activity status: inactive (<7500 steps/day) or active (≥7500 steps/day). Habitual physical activity was assessed by counting the number of daily steps, using a digital pedometer. Anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory examination were also determined. The age of participants was 23.9±6.4 years old and most of them were Caucasians. While BMI was higher in PCOS than in controls, it was similar between active and inactive participants of each group. Androgen levels and HOMA-IR were higher and sex hormone-binding globulin was lower in PCOS compared to controls (P<0.05). Abnormal fasting insulin (≥20 μIU/ml) was found to be less frequent in active than in inactive PCOS (21.7 and 52.2%, P=0.009) as well as HOMA-IR ≥2.7 (34.0 and 44.7%, P=0.005) and lipid accumulation index (LAP) ≥34.5 (35.7 and 50%, P=0.013). Active vs inactive controls also presented similar results (P<0.05). In conclusion, habitual physical activity, specifically walking 7500 or more steps daily, was associated with lower frequency of insulin resistance, assessed by different clinical markers in PCOS women. These data suggest that even a slight to moderate non-structured daily physical activity might bring health benefices in PCOS before metabolic comorbidities become evident.

Disclosure: This work was supported by grants from CNPq INCT 573747/2008-3 and FIPE-HCPA 12-0375, Brazil.