Higher Visceral and Lower Peripheral Adiposity Characterize Fat Distribution and Insulin Resistance in Asian Indian Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Mauritius

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Introduction There are controversies about whether women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) show a disproportionately higher visceral adiposity, and its relevance to their higher cardiometabolic risks. We investigated in women of Asian Indian descent in Mauritius, a population inherently prone to abdominal obesity, whether those with PCOS will show a more adverse cardiometabolic risk profile that could be explained by abnormalities in fat distribution. Methods Young women newly diagnosed with PCOS (n = 25) were compared with a reference control cohort (n = 139) for the following measurements made after an overnight fast: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and blood pressure and blood assays for glycemic (glucose, HbA1c, and insulin) and lipid (triglycerides and cholesterols) profiles. Results Women with PCOS showed, on average, higher BMI, WC, fat mass and lean mass (p Conclusion In Mauritius, young women of Asian Indian descent with PCOS show altered fat distribution characterized by a disproportionately higher visceral (hazardous) adiposity in parallel to lower peripheral (protective) adiposity, which together explain their exacerbated state of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance.

Evidence level

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

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