PCOS and Insulin Resistance (IR): From Lifestyle to Insulin Sensitizers

Abstract

PCOS patients are typically characterized by chronic anovulation, hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovaries and these aspects are frequent in a high percentage of women during the repruductive life. PCOS frequently show overweight and/or obesity and are characterized by a higher production of androgens and reduced sensitivity to insulin. In fact it is of great importance to note that up to 60% of all PCOS patients are with modest up to exagerated overweight and that most of these patients show a modest up to an exagerated hyperinsulinism in response to the standard oral glucose tollerance test (OGTT). This reduced insulin sensitivity can be modified by a specific attention to life style, including not only a diet but also certain degree of physical activity. However, a specific effect on hyperinsulinemia can be achieved using glucose sensitizer drugs, such as metformin, so that to reduce the negative modulation exerted by hyperinsulinemia on the reproductive axis as well as on neuroendocrine control of reproduction with relevant effects also on adrenal function and neurosteroid production. Also specific integrative compounds have been proposed in recent years to counteract insulin resistance: myo-inositol (MYO) and d-chiro-inositol (DCI). These 2 compounds are tightly linked one to the other since MYO is transformed by an epimerase in DCI, having each tissue its own conversion rate, likely due to the specific needs for the two different molecules. In general both these compounds works as specific modulators of the intra cellular second messanger activated by the insulin linkage with its own membrane receptor. It remains clear that only the combination of life-style (diet & physical exercise) with one of the above mentioned treatments is able to solve the metabolic/endocrine impairment of overweight/obese PCOS.