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Fat Distribution and Adipose Products in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

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Insulin Resistance and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

Abstract

Because adipose tissue is a complex endocrine organ that secretes many substances with profound effects on metabolism and the cardiovascular (CV) system, most obese subjects have an increased CV risk. However, 20% of obese subjects are metabolically healthy, and many studies suggest that fat distribution, in particular abdominal fat excess, is the most important factor that determines a secretion of adipose products that may increase CV risk.

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) present abdominal fat excess that is related to their androgen and/or insulin excess and that is present not only in the obese, but also in overweight and normal weight patients. Altered fat distribution plays an important role in the increased metabolic and CV risk observed in PCOS.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    Enrico Carmina MD

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  1. Enrico Carmina MD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrine Section of First Department of Internal Medicine, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece

    Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis MD, PhD

  2. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

    John E. Nestler MD

  3. Division of Endocrinology and Human Reproduction, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Dimitrios Panidis MD, PhD

  4. Endocrinology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and C.R.B.A., S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Renato Pasquali MD

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© 2007 Humana Press Inc.

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Carmina, E. (2007). Fat Distribution and Adipose Products in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. In: Diamanti-Kandarakis, E., Nestler, J.E., Panidis, D., Pasquali, R. (eds) Insulin Resistance and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-310-3_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-310-3_2

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-763-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-310-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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