Body iron stores are increased in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Increased body iron stores are associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. In conceptual agreement, increased serum ferritin levels are positively associated with the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in men and adult preand postmenopausal women (1) and with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in both men (2) and women (2,3). Given that insulin resistance and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes are frequent in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (4,5), we hypothesize that body iron stores might be especially increased in these women.