Hyperuricemia links major metabolic issues in polycystic ovary syndrome

Published in the ‘Frontiers in Endocrinology’ a new study investigated any potential relationship between hyperuricemia and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Zhentao Gong and colleagues did a retrospective study involving 603 women having PCOS and 604 without PCOS. They compared serum uric acid levels and hyperuricemia incidence while analyzing the influence of body mass index (BMI) and various metabolic markers.

Women with PCOS had significantly higher serum uric acid levels and a higher incidence of hyperuricemia than those without PCOS. However, no marked difference was observed between the obese subgroups. Pearson's correlation showed BMI strongly affects uric acid levels.

Multivariable analysis identified noteworthy associations between uric acid levels and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, total cholesterol, free androgen index, free fatty acids, triglycerides, fasting insulin, homeostatic model estimation of insulin resistance, insulin area under the curve, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. Hyperuricemia was positively linked with fasting plasma glucose and negatively with estradiol.

PCOS is connected to more elevated uric acid levels and boosted risk of hyperuricemia. Key factors such as body weight, insulin resistance, and lipid levels are likely driven by this association, as concluded by the study.