Augmentation of cortical bone mineral density in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) study

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may have increased cortical bone mineral density (BMD) and probably higher bone material quality as well as better resistance in the compression strength of the tibia, measured by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), in comparison with that of age-matched healthy subjects. Thirty women with PCOS, (15 lean and 15 obese) and 15 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The clinical, biochemical and ultrasound characteristics of the two groups were evaluated. Using pQCT, the following parameters were measured: volumetric cortical density (CBD) and volumetric trabecular density (TBD) BMD, total bone cross-sectional area (ToA), cortical area (CoA), cortical thickness (CRT-THK-C) and finally the strength-strain index (SSI). The geometrical parameters (CoA, ToA, CRT-THK-C), the SSI as well as the TBD were increased in the PCOS women; however, these differences did not achieve statistical significance between lean PCOS women, obese PCOS women, and controls. Conversely, CBD was significantly higher in PCOS women compared with controls (P < 0.000) and furthermore in lean PCOS women compared with obese ones (P < 0.01040). The PCOS women of our study seem to have a higher quality of bone material in the distal tibia and probably a better resistance of bone in the compression strength without alterations in bone mass and geometry (especially the lean PCOS women), indicating that our oligomenorrheic and hyperandrogonemic PCOS women may be protected from the development of osteoporosis and fracture risk later in life.