Association of thyroid-stimulating hormone with insulin resistance and androgen parameters in women with PCOS

There is a relationship between thyroid function and insulin sensitivity and alterations in lipids and metabolic parameters. Little information is available regarding this relationship in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. However all those pathologies are also described as often affecting women with polycystic ovary syndrome. The association between thyroid-stimulating hormone <2.5 mIU/l and ≥2.5 mIU/l with insulin resistance and endocrine parameters in 103 women with polycystic ovary syndrome was studied. Clinical, metabolic and endocrine parameters were obtained and an oral glucose tolerance test was performed with calculation of insulin resistance indices. Women with thyroid-stimulating hormone ≥2.5 mIU/l had a significantly higher body mass index (P = 0.003), higher fasting insulin concentrations (P = 0.02) and altered insulin resistance indices (P = 0.007), higher total testosterone (P = 0.009) and free androgen indices (P = 0.001) and decreased sex hormone–binding globulin concentrations (P = 0.01) in comparison with women with thyroid-stimulating hormone <2.5 mIU/l. Generally, all of these parameters correlated significantly (P < 0.05) with thyroid-stimulating hormone only in women with thyroid-stimulating hormone ≥2.5 mIU/l. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome and with thyroid-stimulating hormone ≥2.5 mIU/l had significantly altered endocrine and metabolic changes.