Metabolic Syndrome and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

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Metabolic syndrome occurs at an early age in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), particularly among women with the highest insulin levels and body mass index. Obesity is a common characteristic of PCOS and is more common in women with PCOS. Excessive weight gain may reveal the latent PCOS condition. Most women with PCOS are hyperinsulinemic and insulin-resistant. Insulin resistance (IR) is a major cause of metabolic manifestations and is known to be a common finding in PCOS. PCOS is also associated with an increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance, type 2 gestational diabetes mellitus, lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The presence of obesity, IR, impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes mellitus type 2, and dyslipidemia may predispose to coronary heart disease in women with PCOS.