Table 1 Anamnestic and anthropometric characteristics of controls and cases at enrollment (PCOS-T0) and after 3-months treatment (PCOS-T1)

Age (years)

21.9 ± 2.9

–

Height (cm)

158.0 ± 6.4

–

Weight (Kg)

53.9 ± 6.0

71.9 ± 6.7*

67.0 ± 7.3*

–

BMI (Kg/m²)

21.6 ± 1.6

28.4 ± 1.7*

26.4 ± 1.7^*,§

< 18.5 Underweight

18.5–25.0 Normal weight

25.1–29.9 Overweight

> 30 Obese

 Normal

12 (80%)

5 (33%)

9 (60%)

< 20 mL

 hypo-

2 (13%)

9 (60%)

5 (33%)

20–80 mL

 hyper-

1 (7%)

1 (7%)

1 (10%)

> 80 mL

Blood Glucose (mg/dL)

79.3 ± 6.9

83.9 ± 7.5

88.0 ± 8.5*

70–110

Insulin (μU/mL)

6.2 ± 1.2

8.0 ± 3.1

7.9 ± 3.8

2–25

HOMA-IR index

1.30 ± 0.22

1.68 ± 0.64

1.76 ± 0.99

0.2–2.2

Total Cholesterol (mg/dL)

150.7 ± 17.3

169.7 ± 34.9

152.1 ± 21.5

< 200

Triglycerides (mg/dL)

67.0 ± 17.1

77.6 ± 26.0

62.5 ± 12.3

< 150

Total Testosterone (ng/dL)

32.7 ± 9.88

42.7 ± 9.91*

34.98 ± 8.11

21–49

Free Testosterone (pg/mL)

2.49 ± 0.81

2.50 ± 0.98

2.48 ± 1.06

< 3.0

 Yes

15 (100%)

0 (0%)*

4 (27%)*

Regularity: loss between 20–80 mL; cycle lasting 25–36 days

 No

0 (0%)

15 (100%)*

11 (73%)*

Number of menstrual cycles in previous 3 months

3.0 ± 0.0

1.6 ± 0.5*

2.0 ± 0.7*

Number of antral follicles

6.8 ± 1.2

15.4 ± 1.7*

13.2 ± 2.3^*,§

< 12

Acne score

1.4 ± 0.5

2.1 ± 1.2

1.8 ± 1.1

–

Ovary volumes (mL)

7.4 ± 0.7

12.2 ± 2.2*

10.2 ± 1.9^*,§

< 10

Ferriman-Gallwey score

5.1 ± 2.1

15.5 ± 5.0*

15.0 ± 4.9*

< 8