Bane mineral density and body composition in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective: To examine bone mineral density (BMD) and fat distribution in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared with matched control women. Design: Controlled clinical study. Setting: An academic clinical research center. Patient(s): Twelve non-Hispanic white women with PCOS and a body mass index of <26 and 10 healthy control women matched for age, ethnicity, and weight. Intervention(s): Biometric measures, blood sample collection, and total body/regional bone density and fat analysis were performed. Main Outcome Measure(s): Serum levels of androgens, glucose, and insulin were measured. Bone density and fat distribution were measured by total body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Result(s): Androgen levels were elevated significantly in the lean women with PCOS compared with the controls. There was no statistically significant difference in total body BMD between the two groups. A significant increase in BMD was noted in the left arm, right arm, and left ribs of the lean PCOS group. Evaluation of upper body BMD showed a significant correlation between testosterone levels and BMD. No statistically significant differences were noted in body fat distribution, although the lean PCOS group tended to have lower mean percentages of body fat. Conclusion(s): Lean women with PCOS have regional differences in BMD, with significantly increased BMD in the upper skeleton compared with control women. (Fertil Steril(R) 1999;72:21-5. (C)1999 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).