Abstract

Introduction: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of anovulation and hyperandrogenism, and obesity and insulin resistance are usually associated with this disease. Body iron stores are positively associated with glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes and metabolic syndrome. It is reported that serum ferritin levels increase in obese women with PCOS. The aim of this study was to evaluate this relationship in women, neither overweight or obese, but suffering from PCOS. Materials and Methods: Fifty women with PCOS, without overweight, were selected based on the Rotterdam workshop criteria. After 12 hours fasting, serum ferritin, fasting blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and insulin were measured and insulin resistance was calculated by HOMA-IR data was compared with that of 38 asymptomatic control subjects, matched for BMI and age. Results: In the patient group, mean age was 27±5.78 years and mean BMI was 21.11±3.82 Kg/m² mean serum ferritin in patients was 60.45±32.39, being 47.48±23.65 ng/mL in controls. Insulin resistance in patients was 2.61±0.91 and 1.74±0.72 in controls. Increases in serum ferritin, insulin and insulin resistance in patients were not statistically significant. There was no correlation between body iron stores and serum insulin level, insulin resistance and serum lipoproteins. Conclusion: Results showed that in non-overweight women with PCOS there is no significant increment of body iron stores.