Association Between Insulin Resistance Indices and Liver Function Parameters Among Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Objective

This study aimed to investigate whether polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) status changes the association between insulin resistance (IR) indices and liver function parameters among women.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional, population-based study. We selected 1101 subjects aged ≥20 years from participants of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS). All of them had known the status of PCOS, and all variables were related to the IR indices and liver function parameters. The main outcome measures were TG/HDL-C and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) and liver function parameters (hepatic steatosis index [HSI], alanine transaminase [ALT] and aspartate transaminase [AST]).

Result

In the present study, there was no significant difference between the PCOS and the non-PCOS regarding the presence of liver function abnormalities. A model adjusted by age and BMI showed that the upper tertile of TyG index was positively associated with high AST (OR = 3.04 [95% CI: 1.20–7.68], p < 0.05), high ALT (4.76 [3.07–7.36], p < 0.05) and high HSI (8.44 [1.82–39.17], p < 0.05). Although the history of diabetes had a positive impact on elevated AST (1.66 [1.15, 2.40], p < 0.05), the third tertile of TG/HDL-C was associated with increased odds of elevated ALT (3.35 [2.21–5.06]) and HSI (6.55 [1.17–36.46]), whereas the second tertile of TG/HDL-C (OR = 2.65, CI 95%: 1.74–4.03) was also positively associated with elevated ALT. PCOS had no significant association with elevated liver function tests.

Conclusion

The highest tertile of TyG index and the TG/HDL-C ratio as a surrogate of IR might play a role in detecting abnormalities of liver function parameters among women. However, PCOS status cannot change the association between IR and liver dysfunction.