PCOS: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Part #1: The Causes of PCOS

KEY RISK FACTORS (some of the causes of PCOS)

• Obesity is a risk factor for PCOS (Kakoly NS, 2019). One study found that 60% of women with PCOS are obese (Roos N, 2011).
• Gut dysbiosis and leaky gut: We will cover this issue in greater detail below
• Metabolic syndrome: a set of conditions that include increased blood pressure, high blood sugar / insulin resistance, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. These often occur together and increase risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

CAUSES OF PCOS

The specific cause of PCOS is unknown.

It is a multifactorial disorder mainly brought on by genetic and environmental factors (Zhang F, 2019). It is thought that high levels of male hormones or androgens prevent the ovaries from producing hormones and making eggs normally (Pourteymour Fard Tabrizi F, 2020). Genes, insulin resistance and inflammation have all been linked to excess androgen production.

The best current understanding of the biochemistry involves the 17,20-lyase enzyme (Keleştimur F, 1999). This enzyme is secreted by the adrenal glands. 17,20-lyase helps with the conversion of cholesterol to the androgen hormones testosterone and DHEA (Keleştimur F, 1999). Then aromatase enzyme converts some of that testosterone into estrogen (Keleştimur F, 1999).

Because 17,20-lyase is upregulated with PCOS and is involved with producing testosterone and DHEA, it makes sense that in lab reports for individuals with PCOS, we often see elevated testosterone and/or DHEA-S in the blood (Keleştimur F, 1999). There can also be estrogen dominance because some of the excessive testosterone is getting converted into estrogen with the aromatase enzyme. When estrogen, in relationship to progesterone, becomes proportionately elevated, we can see symptoms associated with estrogen dominance.

Insulin resistance (and/or hyperinsulinemia) -> 17,20-lyase enzyme upregulation -> increased testosterone and DHEA -> potential for increased estrogen from aromatase enzyme converting more testosterone into estrogen

Interactions between genetic, behavioral and environmental factors are involved in the development of PCOS so epigenetic (environment and lifestyle) factors are of prime importance (Pourteymour Fard Tabrizi F, 2020). Some researchers think that it manifests largely due to poor lifestyle habits (Patel, 2018).

THE FIVE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO PCOS (partially are causes of PCOS)

1. Diet:

Diet is the major environmental factor in developing PCOS (Diamanti-Kandarakis E, 2012). Excess calories leading to obesity is widely recognized to have an aggravating impact. Obese women with PCOS treated with a 1,000 kcal diet for 6–7 months showed body weight loss of 5–10% and improvements in their health including renewed ovulation, increasing pregnancy rate and lower levels of insulin and androgens (Zhang F, 2019).

It is well-established that excessive sugar and refined carbohydrates in the diet contribute to many of the problems linked with PCOS such as obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, diabetes and dysbiosis.

Even someone with normal weight may still have metabolic syndrome. Although waist circumference is one risk factor, there can be others like high blood pressure, high triglyceride, and high fasting glucose. Even just high fasting insulin with normal blood sugar could be a risk factor.

Another damaging dietary factor may be the high content of advanced glycated end products (AGEs) in food (Diamanti-Kandarakis E, 2012). AGEs are harmful compounds that are formed when protein or fat combine with sugar in the bloodstream. This process is called glycation. Diet is the biggest contributor of AGEs.

2. The Gut:

The gut has recently been discovered to be linked to PCOS and its development. Research has found a clear association between changes in the gut microbiome and PCOS (Yurtdaş G, 2019).

Essentially, dysbiosis or unbalanced gut bacteria, due, for example, to a poor diet with a high-sugar intake, leads to leaky gut. Leaky gut causes an excessive immune system reaction that can interfere with insulin and drive up insulin levels. This leads to increasing testosterone produced by the ovaries, which interferes with normal follicle development and causes PCOS (Tremellen K, 2012).

3. Hereditary Factors:

Exposure to high levels of androgens (or male hormones) in females during fetal development might result in long-term changes in gut microbiota in the daughters of PCOS patients (Zhang F, 2019). Prenatal androgen exposure can cause infant gut dysbiosis and altered abundance of bacteria, suggesting that androgen excess in immature fetuses could result in long-term alterations in gut microbiota and lead to increased risk of developing PCOS (Zhang F, 2019).

4. Environmental exposure to industrial products:

Environmental toxins, especially, Bisphenol A (BPA), is thought to contribute to PCOS (Diamanti-Kandarakis E, 2012). Toxins, such as plasticizers, BPA and phthalates, act as endocrine disruptors in the development of PCOS (Diamanti-Kandarakis E, 2012).

Extensive exposure to environmental toxins and their role in contributing to PCOS are supported by extensive data (Rutkowska AZ, 2016). Acute or prolonged exposure to EDCs (endocrine disrupting chemicals) can disrupt hormones and reproductive function (Rutkowska AZ, 2016). They may also interfere with metabolic factors such as obesity, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia that can exacerbate the possibility of developing PCOS and contribute to PCOS in the form of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Rutkowska AZ, 2016).

5. Dysregulation of the sympathetic nervous system or HPA axis:

Dysregulation of the sympathetic nervous system may also act as an important component in PCOS (Shorakae S, 2015). Women with PCOS show increased rates of dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (Peecher DL, 2019). The key clinical features of PCOS are anovulation, hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinemia, which are closely related with a dysregulated endocrine system (Wang F, 2017).

Cortisol (as part of the HPA axis) dysregulation can also affect insulin levels, playing a role in the endocrine dysfunction in PCOS patients (Wang F, 2017).

——– To Be Continued Next Week ——-

Please stay tuned and read our next article on PCOS Part #2 where we will discuss solutions on how to manage and address PCOS using Functional Medicine. Thank you for tuning into this week’s article on the causes of PCOS.