Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the body fat distribution of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with age and body mass index matched healthy controls and to investigate if androgens and insulin resistance associated with fat distribution.

Study design: Thirty-three PCOS and 21 age and body mass index (BMI) matched healthy control women were evaluated in terms of body fat distribution with dual X-ray absorpsiometry (DEXA). Blood samples were obtained for follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), free testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), insulin and glucose levels. A 75 g 2 h glucose tolerance test was performed for each woman. Insulin resistance was estimated by fasting insulin level, fasting glucose/insulin ratio and 75 g 2 h glucose tolerance test. The Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to compare the groups. Pearson and Spearman rank correlation coefficients were calculated for normally and nonnormally distributed variables, respectively. Partial correlation coefficients were calculated using age and BMI as covariates.

Results: Fat mass in trunk and arms were significantly higher in patients with PCOS (p < 0.043 and 0.036, respectively). The ratio of fat mass in trunk to fat mass in legs were significantly higher in patients with PCOS (p < 0.011). Free testosterone was found to be positively correlated with fat mass in arms (r = 0.401, p < 0.05). There was still significant correlation between free testosterone and fat mass in arms (r = 0.5964, p < 0.05) after controlling for age and BMI.

Conclusion: Free testosterone level is positively correlated with the fat mass in arms in women with PCOS.