Hyperinsulinemia in polycystic ovary disease

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resis tance in women with polycystic ovary disease (PCOD). STUDY DESIGN: Forty women with clinical and biochemical evidence of PCOD an d 20 with regular menstrual cycles were studied prospectively. All women un derwent a three-hour oral glucose tolerance test following a 100-g glucose load. Plasma sugar and insulin levels were measured. RESULTS: The one-, two- and three-hour insulin values were significantly hi gher in women with PCOD. The sum insulin, cumulative insulin, peak insulin and area under the insulin response curve were similarly higher in women wi th PCOD than in the controls. The presence of hirsutism was more often asso ciated with hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, but body mass index an d menstrual irregularity were not. CONCLUSION: Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance seem to be commonly ass ociated with PCOD.