Apolipoprotein B/Apolipoprotein A1 ratio is associated with sex hormone binding globulin and may be an indicator of metabolic syndrome in PCOS women

ObjectiveTo identify significant factors related to the apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 (apoB/A1) ratio and investigate the association between the apoB/A1 ratio and metabolic syndrome (MS) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women.MethodsTotally 307 subjects with PCOS were collected and recruited fulfilling the revised 2003 Rotterdam diagnostic criteria. MS was diagnosed by the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult treatment Panel (NCEP-ATP) III criteria.ResultsThe prevalence of MS in PCOS women was 31.6%, whose average age was 26.2 ± 5.2 years. The apoB/A1 ratio was significantly correlated with age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure, metabolic abnormalities, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and free androgen index. In addition, SHBG had a significant association with all five component risk of MS. The increasing apoB/A1 ratio was associated with the prevalence of MS and was one of the risk factors of MS.ConclusionSHBG was considered as an additional potential factor in predicting the metabolic abnormity in PCOS women. The apoB/A1 ratio is associated with SHBG and might be an indicator of MS in PCOS women.