The Effect of Exercise Training on Body Composition, Insulin Resistance and High Sensitivity C-reactive Protein (Hs-CRP) in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Study From North India

Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is defined as clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism, oligo/amenorrhea, and polycystic ovaries with or without increased ovarian volume. The goal of this study was to assess the effect of a 20-week home-based aerobic exercise programme on body composition, insulin resistance, and hs-CRP levels in women with PCOS. Methods This 12-month prospective study included 60 female patients diagnosed with PCOS, aged 20 to 40 years. The participants were divided into 2 groups, one for the experiment and the other for the control. For each participant, the 12-hour fasting blood samples were taken on two occasions i.e., 24 hours before the first session and 48 hours after the last session to measure the fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and hs-CRP. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to conduct the analysis, and an association was considered significant when the p-value was less than 0.05. Results In the present study, there was a dropout rate of 16.7% (5/30) in the study group and 23.3% (7/30) in the control group. The baseline characteristics were comparable (p>0.05) between the study group and the control group during the enrolment. The BMI (kg/m(2)) among the study group before the exercise programme was 22.8±1.8 and it was significantly reduced to 21.1±1.9 after the exercise programme (p<0.05). The HOMA-IR and hs-CRP (mg/L) levels among the study group before the exercise programme were 3.2±1.5 and 6.7±2.7 respectively, and these were significantly reduced to 1.9±1.6 and 4.2±1.3 respectively after the exercise programme (p<0.05). In contrast, paired T-test analysis showed no such significant difference (p<0.05) for all variables (Weight, BMI, Waist, Hip, fasting glucose, Fasting insulin, and hs-CRP) among the control group during the study period. Conclusion In a group of female PCOS patients, a 20-week home-based aerobic exercise programme reduced weight, BMI, HOMA-IR, and hs-CRP. Although more research on the effects of aerobic exercises in PCOS is needed, these findings support aerobic exercise's effectiveness in reducing inflammation and enhancing insulin sensitivity in these patients.