Higher Visceral and Lower Peripheral Adiposity Characterize Fat Distribution and Insulin Resistance in Asian Indian Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Mauritius

Introduction: There are controversies about whether women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) show a disproportionately higher visceral adiposity, and its relevance to their higher cardiometabolic risks. We investigated in women of Asian Indian descent in Mauritius, a population inheren...

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Main Authors: Vinaysing Ramessur, Sadhna Hunma, Noorjehan Joonas, Bibi Nasreen Ramessur, Yves Schutz, Jean-Pierre Montani, Abdul Dulloo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Karger Publishers 2025-01-01
Series:Obesity Facts
Online Access:https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000543332
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author Vinaysing Ramessur
Sadhna Hunma
Noorjehan Joonas
Bibi Nasreen Ramessur
Yves Schutz
Jean-Pierre Montani
Abdul Dulloo
author_facet Vinaysing Ramessur
Sadhna Hunma
Noorjehan Joonas
Bibi Nasreen Ramessur
Yves Schutz
Jean-Pierre Montani
Abdul Dulloo
author_sort Vinaysing Ramessur
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: There are controversies about whether women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) show a disproportionately higher visceral adiposity, and its relevance to their higher cardiometabolic risks. We investigated in women of Asian Indian descent in Mauritius, a population inherently prone to abdominal obesity, whether those with PCOS will show a more adverse cardiometabolic risk profile that could be explained by abnormalities in fat distribution. Methods: Young women newly diagnosed with PCOS (n = 25) were compared with a reference control cohort (n = 139) for the following measurements made after an overnight fast: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and blood pressure and blood assays for glycemic (glucose, HbA1c, and insulin) and lipid (triglycerides and cholesterols) profiles. Results: Women with PCOS showed, on average, higher BMI, WC, fat mass and lean mass (p < 0.01) than controls, but linear regression analyses indicate that for the same BMI (or same WC), the two groups showed no significant differences in fat mass and lean mass. By contrast, linear regression plots indicate that for the same total fat mass, women with PCOS showed higher trunk, android, and visceral fat (p < 0.01); no difference in abdominal subcutaneous fat; and lower peripheral (gynoid or limb) fat (p < 0.05). Furthermore, women with PCOS showed higher fasting plasma insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, and lower insulin sensitivity index (QUICKI) (all p < 0.001), which were completely or markedly abolished after adjusting for visceral fat or central-to-peripheral fat ratios. Conclusion: In Mauritius, young women of Asian Indian descent with PCOS show altered fat distribution characterized by a disproportionately higher visceral (hazardous) adiposity in parallel to lower peripheral (protective) adiposity, which together explain their exacerbated state of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance.
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spelling doaj-art-e3468b4cf1054dec8df74cfb83b032932025-08-20T03:09:47ZengKarger PublishersObesity Facts1662-40332025-01-0123624710.1159/000543332Higher Visceral and Lower Peripheral Adiposity Characterize Fat Distribution and Insulin Resistance in Asian Indian Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in MauritiusVinaysing RamessurSadhna HunmaNoorjehan JoonasBibi Nasreen RamessurYves SchutzJean-Pierre MontaniAbdul Dulloo Introduction: There are controversies about whether women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) show a disproportionately higher visceral adiposity, and its relevance to their higher cardiometabolic risks. We investigated in women of Asian Indian descent in Mauritius, a population inherently prone to abdominal obesity, whether those with PCOS will show a more adverse cardiometabolic risk profile that could be explained by abnormalities in fat distribution. Methods: Young women newly diagnosed with PCOS (n = 25) were compared with a reference control cohort (n = 139) for the following measurements made after an overnight fast: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and blood pressure and blood assays for glycemic (glucose, HbA1c, and insulin) and lipid (triglycerides and cholesterols) profiles. Results: Women with PCOS showed, on average, higher BMI, WC, fat mass and lean mass (p < 0.01) than controls, but linear regression analyses indicate that for the same BMI (or same WC), the two groups showed no significant differences in fat mass and lean mass. By contrast, linear regression plots indicate that for the same total fat mass, women with PCOS showed higher trunk, android, and visceral fat (p < 0.01); no difference in abdominal subcutaneous fat; and lower peripheral (gynoid or limb) fat (p < 0.05). Furthermore, women with PCOS showed higher fasting plasma insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, and lower insulin sensitivity index (QUICKI) (all p < 0.001), which were completely or markedly abolished after adjusting for visceral fat or central-to-peripheral fat ratios. Conclusion: In Mauritius, young women of Asian Indian descent with PCOS show altered fat distribution characterized by a disproportionately higher visceral (hazardous) adiposity in parallel to lower peripheral (protective) adiposity, which together explain their exacerbated state of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000543332
spellingShingle Vinaysing Ramessur
Sadhna Hunma
Noorjehan Joonas
Bibi Nasreen Ramessur
Yves Schutz
Jean-Pierre Montani
Abdul Dulloo
Higher Visceral and Lower Peripheral Adiposity Characterize Fat Distribution and Insulin Resistance in Asian Indian Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Mauritius
Obesity Facts
title Higher Visceral and Lower Peripheral Adiposity Characterize Fat Distribution and Insulin Resistance in Asian Indian Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Mauritius
title_full Higher Visceral and Lower Peripheral Adiposity Characterize Fat Distribution and Insulin Resistance in Asian Indian Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Mauritius
title_fullStr Higher Visceral and Lower Peripheral Adiposity Characterize Fat Distribution and Insulin Resistance in Asian Indian Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Mauritius
title_full_unstemmed Higher Visceral and Lower Peripheral Adiposity Characterize Fat Distribution and Insulin Resistance in Asian Indian Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Mauritius
title_short Higher Visceral and Lower Peripheral Adiposity Characterize Fat Distribution and Insulin Resistance in Asian Indian Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Mauritius
title_sort higher visceral and lower peripheral adiposity characterize fat distribution and insulin resistance in asian indian women with polycystic ovary syndrome in mauritius
url https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000543332
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