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Insulin as a factor of increased androgen production in women with obesity and polycystic ovaries

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Abstract

To evaluate the possible role of moderate hyperinsulinemia on abnormal androgen secretion, we examined 4 age and weight-matched groups of obese subjects: 2 groups of women with normal menses whose fasting insulin (IRI) levels were ⩽ 20 μU/ml (OB-I) or ⩾ 40 μU/ml (OB-I) and 2 groups of women with polycystic ovaries who were similarly grouped. All subjects underwent an oral glucose tolerance test, blood sex hormone determination and multiple LH determinations. Compared to OB, OB-PCO women showed significantly higher values of LH, androgen and estrogen concentrations. OB-I and OB-II showed similar hormonal patterns. On the contrary, OB-PCO-II presented significantly (p < 0.05) higher androstenedione concentrations (348.7 ± 129.9 ng/dl) (m ± SD) than OB-PCO-I women (237.0 ± 73.7 ng/dl). These differences were evident despite similar plasma LH concentrations. In conclusion, these results suggest that insulin may be a factor amplifying LH-de-pendent androgen secretion in hyperandrogenized women with obesity and PCO.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro di Fisiopatologia della Nutrizione e Metabolismo, Istituto di Clinica Medica I, Bologna, Italy

    Renato Pasquali, D. Antenucci, F. Casimirri, N. Melchionda & L. Barbara

  2. Istituto di Fisiopatologia della Riproduzione, Ospedale S. Orsola, University of Bologna, 40138, Bologna, Italy

    S. Venturoli, R. Paradisi & R. Fabbri

  3. Clinica Medica I., Ospedale S. Orsola, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy

    Renato Pasquali

Authors
  1. Renato Pasquali
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  2. D. Antenucci
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  3. F. Casimirri
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  4. S. Venturoli
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  5. R. Paradisi
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  6. R. Fabbri
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  7. N. Melchionda
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  8. L. Barbara
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Pasquali, R., Antenucci, D., Casimirri, F. et al. Insulin as a factor of increased androgen production in women with obesity and polycystic ovaries. J Endocrinol Invest 10, 575–579 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03346997

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03346997

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