Obesity is associated with SHBG levels rather than blood lipid profiles in PCOS patients with insulin resistance.

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder characterized by hormonal imbalances and insulin resistance (IR). Among the metabolic abnormalities associated with PCOS, obesity is often present concurrently. Nevertheless, the correlation between obesity, sex hormone levels, and blood lipid profiles in PCOS patients with IR remains uncertain.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study including a total of 206 Chinese women diagnosed with PCOS, enrolled between March 2016 and December 2021. The participants' anthropometric measurements, such as weight, height, waist circumference, and hip circumference, were recorded. Additionally, fasting blood samples were collected to measure various parameters, including fasting glucose, insulin levels, lipid profiles, and sex hormone levels.

Results: Our findings highlight that obesity exhibited a significant correlation with lower levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and elevated levels of free androgen index (FAI), fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR in PCOS patients diagnosed with IR. However, no significant association between obesity and blood lipid profiles was observed within this particular group of women.

Conclusion: This study suggests that among PCOS patients with IR, lower levels of SHBG and higher levels of FAI are associated with obesity. These findings indicate that SHBG and FAI may have the potential to serve as a biomarker for the initial identification and prognosis of IR in PCOS patients.

Trial registration: Retrospectively registered on 25/04/2020 at ClinicalTrials.gov Identifer: NCT04264832.