 Victims
of Insulin Resistance-related PCOS (Polycystic
Ovarian Syndrome) face a higher risk of developing liver disease,
according to a new study conducted at the University of California at San
Diego (1).
Researchers say the finding is important for doctors who may not be aware
that women with PCOS face this higher risk and thus treat them with medications
that could be toxic to the liver.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a disorder caused by a hormone imbalance
linked with the way the body processes insulin, which aids the body's absorption
of blood sugar for energy. When insulin and glucose levels become unbalanced,
because of a condition called Insulin Resistance, the ovaries can produce
an abnormal abundance of the predominantly male hormone testosterone, which
is a characteristic of PCOS.
Among the signs of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is the growth of abnormal
cysts on the ovaries. This can be accompanied by irregular or non-existent
menstrual cycles leading to infertility. Symptoms of the disorder may also
include hirsutism (abnormal growth of hair), thinning hair, acne, weight
gain, depression and anxiety. Other symptoms can include sleep apnea (breathing
troubles during sleeping) and thyroid disorders.
In the study, published in the journal Fertility and Sterility in
February 2005, physicians at the University of California at San Diego
theorized that PCOS is connected with a higher risk of developing non-alcoholic
fatty liver disease, or NAFLD. This is an umbrella term used to describe
a range of liver diseases, from benign to potentially fatal, which are
characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver. This increase in
fatty liver risk can be caused by different things, such as Insulin Resistance-related
disorders like Type 2 Diabetes, weight gain, poor diet or associated illnesses
like tuberculosis. A more damaging kind of fatty liver disease is known
as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is diagnosed when accumulated
fat causes liver inflammation, resulting in permanent damage to the organ.
"We hypothesized that women with PCOS would demonstrate a high incidence
of NAFLD because of the link to Insulin Resistance,"
explained Walter Schwimmer, Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Bellflower, California, and one
of the study's lead researchers.
Insulin Resistance is a shared characteristic of both Polycystic Ovarian
Syndrome and NAFLD. "The data in the study, in fact, demonstrates
that elevated ALT is more common in women with PCOS than in the general
population of women of a similar age, race and body weight," he added.
Doctors look for levels of ALT as a sign of liver disease. ALT stands for
alanine aminotransferase, an enzyme released by the liver into the blood
stream when the liver is damaged.
For the study, researchers reviewed the records of 70 women who had been
evaluated for infertility. Information was gathered on height, weight,
blood pressure, hirsutism, liver enzyme levels, fasting glucose, fasting
insulin and cholesterol.
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Santa Ana, CA |
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Nearly a third of the women diagnosed as having PCOS had higher-than-normal
levels of ALT, indicating the presence of liver disease. Additionally,
levels of another liver enzyme, aspartate aminotransferase, or AST, were
increased in 12% of the patients studied. All seven subjects with an elevated
AST also had an elevated ALT.
Women with higher ALT levels also weighed significantly more, had a higher
waist circumference, increased triglyceride levels and higher cholesterol. "There
was a significant association between the presence of hirsutism and the
finding of an abnormal ALT in women with PCOS," the study reported,
adding that the link between fatty liver disease and hirsutism was "very
unexpected."
"We determined that Insulin Resistance explains the high rate of elevated
ALT in women with PCOS, and that these women with PCOS are at increased
risk for NAFLD," said Professor Schwimmer.
But the investigators also cautioned that since liver biopsies weren't
performed in the study, it was not possible to determine the true prevalence
of NAFLD in the group of women.
In conclusion, the investigators recommended that women diagnosed with
PCOS who also have higher ALT levels avoid alcohol and acetaminophen, both
of which can be toxic to a diseased liver.
A complete system, including nutraceuticals (vitamins, herbs and minerals
that are disease specific), a realistic exercise program, nutritional guidance
and a support system that will help you change unhealthy lifestyle choices,
is required to address the issues presented by these syndromes.
Click here to
read about the ground-breaking Insulite PCOS System, which
is scientifically-designed to reverse Insulin Resistance,
a hormonal imbalance that has been linked to diseases like PCOS and liver
disease. The system features four formulations, including PCOS+
which consists of nutrients such as milk thistle, which supports liver
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You may be interested in some of our Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs) about PCOS and the Insulite PCOS System.
(1) Abnormal
aminotransferase activity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
- Schwimmer JB, Khorram O, Chiu V, Schwimmer WB., Fertil Steril 2005
Feb;83(2):494-7.
Click
here to read about PCOS
and Emotional or Mental Disorders
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