Association of measures of central fat accumulation indices with body fat distribution and metabolic, hormonal, and inflammatory parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the associations among visceral adiposity index (VAI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), body fat percentage (%), and android/gynoid ratio (A/G ratio) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and verify if the parameters representative of visceral obesity correlate with and exhibit the same frequency as body composition variables; anthropometric indices; and metabolic, hormonal, and inflammatory parameters. Subjects and methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 94 women with PCOS. Hormonal, metabolic, and inflammatory parameters were analyzed in all women. Free androgen index (FAI) and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR), as well as LAP, VAI, and anthropometric indices, were calculated. The regions of interest (ROIs) in body composition and body composition indices were evaluated using a dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Overall, 32 variables were selected as markers of body fat distribution. Results: Among the 32 markers evaluated, 29 correlated with LAP, whereas 25 correlated with VAI, 19 with body fat (%), and 30 with A/G ratio. Additionally, some markers correlated with the four adiposity indices evaluated: ROIs, except for total mass and leg fat (%); body composition (body mass index, waist circumference, and hip circumference) indices; fasting insulin; and C-reactive protein. Conclusion: LAP and VAI may be sensitive measures for screening and preventing metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in PCOS, with LAP being more sensitive than VAI, and the A/G ratio may be more sensitive than body fat percentage.

Differential Effects of Various Androgens on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

“…In clinical practice, FAI is a reliable surrogate for FT measurement [1,[54][55][56]. In the current study, after adjustment for age and BMI, in both NA-PCOS and HA-PCOS groups, FAI was positively associated with most anthropometric biomarker despite FAI had been previously reported to correlate only with body weight (BW), and BMI in women with PCOS [17,50,[57][58][59][60][61]. In NA-PCOS women, FAI was positively correlated with VAI and also tended to predict C-peptide levels.…”

Indirect Predictors of Visceral Adipose Tissue in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Comparison of Methods

“…VAT and LAP are parameters that may help account for the estimation of risk of VO, IR and MS [ 19 ]. LAP seems to be more accurate in VAT prediction than VAI both in the current study and recent observations [ 19 ]. LAP also seems to better predict MS than VAI [ 17 ].…”

“…There is no general agreement on the most effective predictor of VO. Even though women with PCOS are at risk for VO, studies on this group and different VAT measurements are lacking and insufficient [ 11 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Implicating androgen excess in propagating metabolic disease in polycystic ovary syndrome

“…89,90 Some studies have also shown that although women with PCOS have android fat mass distribution, these might not be accompanied by increased visceral fat. 91,92 On the other hand, gluteo-femoral fat or gynecoid adiposity, low in PCOS, has been shown to be independently associated with protective lipid and glucose profile along with decreased cardiovascular and metabolic risk. 93 Visceral adiposity index (VAI) has similar utility to the gold-standard computed tomography scan in the evaluation of visceral adiposity.…”