The new article, published by SPIOMET4HEALTH coordinator Dr. Lourdes Ibáñez and co-coordinator Dr. Francis de Zegher, focuses on treating PCOS by targeting ectopic fat
Twenty-five years ago, adolescent Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) fell into a grey area between multiple medical specialities like paediatrics, gynaecology, endocrinology, and dermatology. However, over the past decades, increasing scientific interest has led to a better understanding of the condition and its potential causes.
In a recent article published in Trends in Molecular Medicine, Dr. Lourdes Ibáñez, coordinator of the SPIOMET4HEALTH project at Hospital Sant Joan de Deu in Barcelona, and Dr. Francis de Zegher, co-coordinator of SPIOMET4HEALTH at KU Leuven, shared new insights into the developmental and evolutionary aspects of adolescent PCOS, and proposed updated diagnostic criteria and novel treatment approaches.
Adolescent PCOS has long been thought to be a gynaecological disorder. However, emerging evidence suggests that it is indeed a reversible, endocrine mode in response to ectopic fat. This means that the hormonal imbalances seen in PCOS are driven by the ectopic fat, which is the accumulation of fat in atypical places in the body, such as the liver, muscles, or pancreas. Therefore, according to this finding, PCOS could be reversed by treating it at its root.
Traditional treatment of adolescent PCOS has focused on attenuating the symptoms, but there is now evidence that treatment should also target ectopic fat and ultimately aim for preconception health.
The article suggests that addressing adolescent PCOS and its antecedents is critical not only for improving preconception health and reducing complications during pregnancy, but also for lowering the prevalence of adult PCOS and its associated conditions such as type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, depression, and reduced quality of life.
If you’re interested in learning more, you can read the full article here.