LDL Species Heterogeneity in the Atherogenic Dyslipidemia of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

One of the important risk factors for coronary heart disease is dyslipidemia. Several lipid abnormalities have been studied in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but the relationship between PCOS and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subclass pattern is not clear. A case-control study was designed to look into lipid differences, and LDL size was analyzed by a newly developed polyacrylamide tube gel electrophoresis method. Results indicated that only PCOS status and serum triglyceride levels were independently associated with LDL particle size. The apolipoprotein (Apo)A-I level was higher in PCOS patients with small dense LDL (sdLDL). PCOS seems to result in smaller LDL particle size and higher ApoA-I levels independent of triglyceride levels. After adjusting for triglyceride levels, other traits of insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) were not associated with LDL size phenotype, suggesting that the IRS-related sdLDL is linked most strongly to alterations in triglyceride levels.