Beta cell function and insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: Influence of the family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Aim. To study the impact of family history (FH) of type 2 diabetes mellitus on β-cell compensatory mechanism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Subjects and methods. A total of 70 women with PCOS, 14 with first-degree relative with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (FH+), 56 with negative FH of T2DM (FH−) and 72 age and BMI matched control healthy women (CNT) underwent oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Insulin resistance was evaluated as oral glucose index (OGIS); insulin and C-peptide secretion as the insulinogenic index in 30th min of OGTT.

Results. Fasting blood glucose levels were significantly higher in FH+ than in FH− (p < 0.05). Fasting insulin was higher in FH+ than in CNT (p < 0.05). Fasting C-peptide was significantly higher in both FH− and FH+ than in CNT (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). OGIS was lower in FH+ than in FH− or in CNT (p < 0.05). Insulinogenic index calculated from C-peptide values (II-Cp) was lower in FH+ than in CNT (p < 0.05). Adaptation index calculated from the values of OGIS and insulinogenic index was significantly lower in FH+ than in CNT or in FH− (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.01, respectively).

Conclusions. Insulin resistance and defective early-phase insulin secretion is present only in those PCOS-affected subjects who had positive FH of T2DM.

Keywords:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• diabetes mellitus
• insulin sensitivity
• insulin secretion