| "The overproduction of insulin has
a directly adverse effect on the leutenizing hormone (LH) which
surges midway through the monthly menstrual cycle and is
essential for ovulation.
Insulin increases LH and the raised level stimulates the ovaries
to form androgens (male hormones)."
|
| - |
Viewpoints: Healing News from Insulite Laboratories, January 2005 |
|
|
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), also known as Polycystic
Ovarian Disease, is often caused by a hormonal imbalance brought
on by Insulin Resistance-related obesity. It's a disorder
that affects an estimated 5 to 10 percent of all women, and is one of the
leading causes of infertility. A root
cause of PCOS is Insulin Resistance.
Symptoms of PCOS can
vary widely from woman to woman and may include: irregular or completely
absent periods, ovarian cysts, Hirsutism (excessive facial or body hair),
Alopecia (male pattern hair loss), obesity, acne, skin tags, Acanthosis
Nigricans (brown skin patches), high cholesterol levels, exhaustion or
lack of mental alertness, decreased sex drive, excess male hormones and
infertility. Other symptoms can include sleep apnea (breathing difficulties
during sleeping), thyroid disorders and depression and anxiety.
Current studies clearly link Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Insulin Resistance.
A report released in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology in
2000 indicated that up to 40 percent of women with PCOS have either impaired
glucose tolerance or Type 2 Diabetes by age 40. In addition, with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome,
high levels of insulin stimulate the ovaries to produce large amounts of
testosterone (a male hormone), which can possibly prevent the ovaries from
releasing an egg each month, thus causing infertility. High testosterone
levels can also cause excessive hair growth, male pattern baldness and
acne.
 PCOS
is one of the most common endocrine (or hormonal) disorders and is characterized
by multiple abnormal cysts in the ovaries.
Researchers have also found a link between Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and other metabolic conditions
such as high levels of obesity, LDL (the
"bad" cholesterol) and high blood pressure. These are all risk
factors for coronary heart disease, as well as symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome.
Also known as Syndrome X, this disorder substantially increases your chances
of developing Cardiovascular Disease. These findings substantially raised
the bar on the seriousness of the condition and made it even more important
that physicians correctly diagnose PCOS and recommend appropriate therapy.
Because insulin production of the pancreas is thrown off by the Insulin
Resistance, the conversion of food to energy is impaired and there is an
increase in the amount of stored fats. When glucose cannot enter the cells
efficiently, it remains in the blood stream, causing elevated blood sugar
which is sent to the liver, where it converts to fat and is stored throughout
the body.
 When
the body takes in calories, it has a choice of either burning those calories
for energy or converting them to fat and storing them. In patients with
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Insulin Resistance encourages the storage of fat and the production
of excessive amounts of the male hormone testosterone.
At the present time, there are no cures for PCOS - even removal of the
ovaries will not completely eliminate this syndrome. But there are ways
to address the underlying issue of Insulin Resistance, although a single
approach will simply not work when trying to reverse the effects of this
syndrome.
A complete system is needed to better manage or even reverse the symptoms PCOS. This should include nutraceuticals
(vitamins, herbs and minerals that are disease specific) as well as a realistic
exercise program, nutritional guidance and a support network that can
help you change unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Click
here to read about PCOS Symptoms
|
