Abstract

Introduction

Although the etiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has not yet been fully elucidated, it is thought to be multifactorial. One of the debated mechanisms is the increase in oxidative stress. However, findings regarding oxidative stress increase in adolescents are inconsistent in the literature. This study aimed to evaluate oxidative stress parameters in adolescents with PCOS.

Materials and Methods

Adolescent girls aged 12-18 years, who presented to our Adolescent Health Outpatient Clinic between September 2021 and March 2023 and had menarche at least two years prior, were included in the study. Adolescents diagnosed with PCOS were included in the study group, while age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy adolescents were included in the control group. A medical and menstrual history was obtained from all participants, and physical examinations were performed. Hormonal tests were conducted to assess PCOS diagnosis and hyperandrogenism, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured to evaluate inflammation, and oxidative stress parameters were assessed by measuring native thiol, total thiol, and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels. Additionally, disulfide levels, disulfide/native thiol ratio, disulfide/total thiol ratio, and native thiol/total thiol ratio were calculated.

Results

The study included 33 adolescents with PCOS and 43 healthy adolescents. No significant differences were found between the PCOS and control groups in terms of oxidative stress parameters or IMA levels. Correlation analysis revealed negative correlations between native thiol-total thiol levels and BMI, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and CRP.

Conclusion

In our study, no statistically significant difference was found in oxidative stress parameters between the PCOS and control groups. On the other hand, an inverse relationship was observed between antioxidant capacity and metabolic and inflammatory parameters. Considering the significant association reported in adult PCOS studies, these findings suggest that increased oxidative stress may be a consequence that becomes more pronounced with aging rather than a primary factor in the etiology of PCOS.