The Role of oxidative stress in obese and non-obese polycystic ovary syndrome among women attending infertility clinics in Karbala

Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most significant endocrine disorders that affects female fertility with serious physiological complications.
Objectives: This study examined the association between oxidant-antioxidant status, lipid profile, and the risk of developing metabolic syndrome in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Methods: A case-control study approach was used to gather data on 160 patients from November 2022 to April 2023; two groups were formed from them. The first group is 80 obese (BMI >30 kg/m2) women, 40 were determined to have PCOS (the case group) & 40 healthy women as a control group. The second group is also 80 women, just like the first group, but they were non-obese (BMI ˂30 kg/m2). The Karbala Health Directorate, University, and College of Medicine validated the study's ethical approval. Additionally, the administration of the teaching hospital for gynecology and obstetrics gave their approval.
By using spectrophotometry, the antioxidant activity of the catalase enzyme (CAT) and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were established.
Results: In the group of obese women with PCOS, a statistically significant variation was seen in the average serum MDA concentration. which was observed to be higher when compared to the obese control group (p<0.05). When the antioxidant measure, CAT, was compared to those who are not obese, obese PCOS, and control groups, there was a statistically significant decrease in the difference between the groups (p<0.05). MDA levels were found to be positively correlated with those of the PCOS patient group's BMI, WHR, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HOMA-IR, and LH levels.
Conclusion: Hyperinsulinemia and dyslipidemia were found to relate to reduced antioxidant measurements and oxidative stress in PCOS patients. We believe that this oxidative stress situation may have a role in metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular illnesses in PCOS patients.