Decreased total antioxidant status and increased oxidative stress in women with polycystic ovary syndrome may contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine oxidative stress by the level of protein carbonyls and total antioxidant status (TAOS), and whether oxidative stress is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

DESIGN: Controlled clinical study.

SETTING: University hospital.

PATIENT(S): Thirty women with PCOS and 31 healthy control women.

INTERVENTION(S): Biometric measures and blood samples collection.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): C-reactive protein (CRP), lipid fractions, glucose, protein carbonyls, insulin, and other hormone (gonadotropins, androgens) levels and TAOS were measured. The estimate of insulin resistance was calculated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-R).

RESULT(S): The women with PCOS had significantly higher serum fasting insulin, CRP, protein carbonyl levels, HOMA-R, LH levels, and LH/FSH ratios than healthy women. However, TAOS was significantly lower in women with PCOS. TAOS was negatively correlated with fasting insulin, HOMA-R, CRP, and protein carbonyls. Fasting insulin was positively correlated with protein carbonyls. High density lipoprotein (HDL) was inversely associated with fasting insulin, HOMA-R, and protein carbonyls.

CONCLUSION(S): Increased oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant capacity may contribute to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women with PCOS, in addition to known risk factors such as insulin resistance, hypertension, central obesity, and dyslipidemia.