The clinical and biochemical characteristics associated with insulin resistance in non-obese young women^*

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the biomarkers of insulin resistance in non-obese women.

Design: This was a retrospective study.

Patients: A total 229 non-obese women (Body mass index: BMI < 25) were evaluated.

Main outcome measure(s): Serum levels of various androgens, cardiovascular risk and metabolic components.

Results: There were no significant differences in the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hyperprolactinemia, or premature ovarian failure (POF) between the non-obese women with and without insulin resistance. Non-obese women with insulin had significantly higher serum thyroid stimulation hormone (TSH) levels and resistin and lower serum adiponectin levels than non-obese women without insulin resistance; however, the inflammatory biomarkers and serum androgen levels did not differ between the two groups. Furthermore, using step-wise multivariate regression analysis applied by the risk factors listed above, TSH was the only predictive factor for insulin resistance in non-obese reproductive-aged women.

Conclusions: Thyroid function should play an important role in developing insulin resistance for non-obese women. Serum androgens and inflammation might not contribute to insulin resistance in these women.

Chinese abstract

研究目的：本研究的目的是研究非肥胖妇女胰岛素抵抗的生物标记物。

研究方法：这是一个回顾性研究。

病人：对229名非肥胖妇女 (身体质量指数：BMI <25) 进行了调查研究。

主要测量结果：血清中各种雄激素的水平, 心血管风险和代谢成分。

结果：多囊卵巢综合征 (PCOS) , 高泌乳素血症或卵巢功能早衰 (POF) 的患病率, 在非肥胖妇女有和没有胰岛素抵抗时没有显著区别。有胰岛素抵抗的非肥胖妇女比没有胰岛素抵抗的非肥胖妇女有明显更高的血清促甲状腺激素 (TSH) 水平和抵抗素, 以及较低的血清脂联素水平。然而, 两组的炎症生物标志物和血清雄激素水平没有差别。此外, 对上述危险因子应用逐步多元回归分析, TSH是生育期非肥胖妇女胰岛素抵抗的唯一预测因子

结论：甲状腺功能应该在非肥胖妇女胰岛素抵抗发展中发挥重要作用。血清雄激素和炎症可能不会促成这些妇女的胰岛素抵抗。

Keywords:

• Androgens
• insulin resistance
• non-obesity
• PCOS
• TSH

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication on this article.

This work was supported by Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST 103-2629-B-038-001) funding from the Taiwan government and Taipei Medical University – Wan Fang Hospital Grant103TMU-WFH-10.

Notes

* Part of this work was presented at the 20th World Congress on Controversies in Obstetrics, Gynecology & Infertility (COGI) Paris, France, December 4–7, 2014.