Apnea-hypopnea index in nonobese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on respiratory events during sleep in nonobese Taiwanese women. METHOD: Overnight polysomnography was recorded in 18 nonobese women with PCOS who had not received treatment (body mass index [BMI] 21.7+/-0.57, age 29.1+/-1.43 years) and in 10 age- and BMI-matched women without PCOS (BMI 20.9+/-0.58, age 31.6+/-3.87 years). RESULTS: The nonobese women with PCOS had a higher total apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) especially during the non-rapid eye movement stage (AHI(NREM)) than the women who did not have PCOS. The women with PCOS had higher serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and this was positively correlated with AHI(REM). Total testosterone level was positively correlated with AHI(NREM), and androstenedione was negatively correlated with AHI(NREM). CONCLUSION: PCOS was directly linked to increased obstructive respiratory events during sleep in nonobese women in Taiwan.

One-year soy isoflavone supplementation prevents early postmenopausal bone loss but without a dose-dependent effect.

It is believed that soy isoflavone has much potential effectiveness on the postmenopausal status; however, the optimal dose for preventing postmenopausal bone loss still remains unclear. This open-labeled, self-controlled pilot study was undertaken to determine the effect of 1-year supplementation of different high dosages of soy isoflavone in postmenopausal Taiwanese women. Forty-three women aged 45-67 years were enrolled and randomly assigned into a control (C), 100 mg/day isoflavone (IF100) and 200 mg/day isoflavone (IF200) groups for 1 year. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and other related biochemical markers of bone metabolism were measured. Results indicated that the decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) was significant for lumbar vertebrae L1-3, L1-4 and the femur neck in the C group; surprisingly, the BMD of L1-3 was significantly elevated in the IF100 group; however, there were no consistent responses in the IF200 group. No significant change except loss of the bone mineral content of Ward's triangle (P=.003) was found in the IF200 group after treatment. The percentage change at L1-3 was less (P=.04) in the IF200 group when compared to the IF100 group. A relatively uniform direction of bone formation in expanding the weight and area with different rates of change resulted in different BMD changes. Both indicated a change of bone formation patterns with the higher-dose supplement. A protective effect of IF100 on estrogen-related bone loss was observed. A lack of a benefit such as high safety in the IF200 group for 1-year administration was ensured and lacked undesirable side effects.