Obesity, but not polycystic ovary syndrome, affects circulating markers of low-grade inflammation in young women without major cardiovascular risk factors.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and obesity on circulating markers of low-grade inflammation-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP)-in young women without major cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (diabetes, dyslipidemia and arterial hypertension).

Design: Twenty-five young women with PCOS and 23 eumenorrheic women without major CV risk factors and matched for body mass index (BMI) were studied. They were subdivided according to BMI and PCOS status and comparisons were made between the PCOS and Control groups, regardless of BMI, and between the Obese and Lean groups, regardless of the presence of PCOS.

Results: Levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and hsCRP were similar between the PCOS group and the Control group (2.1 vs 1.9 pg/ml, p=0.397, 3.8 vs 5.7 pg/ml, p=0.805 and 0.9 vs 0.5 ng/ml, p=0.361, respectively). Levels of TNF-α were similar between the obese group and the lean group (2.1 vs 1.9 pg/ml, p=0.444). Levels of IL-6 and hsCRP were higher in the obese group than in the lean group (8.7 vs 2.0, p <0.001 and 1.4 vs 0.2 ng/ml, p <0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: Obesity, but not polycystic ovary syndrome, affects circulating markers of low-grade inflammation in young women without major CV risk factors.