Insulin response to oral glucose in healthy, lean young women and patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background and aim. Insulin resistance and consequent hyperinsulinemia are common among patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Ethnicity and dietary habits affect insulin levels. There is little published information from India on insulin levels in PCOS patients. Thus the present study aimed to determine the insulin response to oral glucose in women with PCOS and healthy women.Methods. In a case–control study design, women with PCOS and lean healthy women without a family history of diabetes mellitus underwent oral glucose tolerance testing. Samples were collected at 0, 1 and 2 h after glucose ingestion.Results. Two hundred and eighty-five women with PCOS and 27 lean healthy young women were enrolled into the study. The mean age of controls was 22.8 ± 4.5 years (range 15–32 years) and their mean body mass index (BMI) was 19.7 ± 2.6 kg/m2. Mean blood glucose at 0, 1 and 2 h was 88.2 ± 7.2, 115.5 ± 25.5 and 91.8 ± 20.5 mg/dl, respectively. Corresponding plasma insulin levels were 5.8 ± 1.1, 32.7 ± ...