Greater adiposity measures during childhood linked to increased risk of PCOS: Study

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is common among females, with significant metabolic and reproductive comorbidities. We describe PCOS development in a pediatric population. They assessed cardiometabolic biomarkers and adiposity at the mid-childhood (mean 7.9 y), early teen (mean 13.1 y), and midteen (mean 17.8 y) visits among 417 females in the prospective Project Viva cohort. We defined PCOS via self-reported diagnosis or ovulatory dysfunction with hyperandrogenism in mid-late adolescence. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess associations of metabolic and adiposity markers at each visit with PCOS. RESULTS: Adolescents with PCOS (n = 56, 13%) versus without had higher mean (SD) BMI z-score and truncal fat mass at the mid-childhood (0.66 [0.99] vs 0.30 [1.04]; 3.5 kg [2.6] vs 2.7 [1.5]), early teen (0.88 [1.01] vs 0.25 [1.08]; 9.4 kg [6.7] vs 6.1 [3.4]), and midteen (0.78 [1.03] vs 0.33 [0.97]; 11.6 kg [7.2] vs 9.1 [4.9]) visits as well as lower adiponectin to leptin ratio at the early (0.65 [0.69] vs 1.04 [0.97]) and midteen (0.33 [0.26] vs 0.75 [1.21]) visits.

In models adjusted for maternal PCOS, education and child race and ethnicity (social factors), we found higher odds of PCOS per 1-SD increase in truncal fat at mid-childhood (odds ratio [OR] 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.95) and early teen visits (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.14–2.28) and lower odds per 1-SD increase in adiponectin/leptin ratio at the midteen visit (OR 0.14; 95% CI 0.03–0.58). Childhood excess adiposity and adipose tissue dysfunction may be the first signs of later PCOS risk.

Reference:

Rachel C. Whooten, Sheryl L. Rifas-Shiman, Wei Perng, Jorge E. Chavarro, Elsie Taveras, Emily Oken, Marie-France Hivert; Associations of Childhood Adiposity and Cardiometabolic Biomarkers With Adolescent PCOS. Pediatrics May 2024; 153 (5): e2023064894. 10.1542/peds.2023-064894