Overall study design
We undertook the study in two parts. We firstly compared fasting plasma
complement protein levels between patients with PCOS (n=84) and healthy
controls (n=95) (cohort 1). Plasma samples, maintained at
-80oC, were obtained from our previous study in which
detailed anthropometric, metabolic and cardiovascular phenotyping was
undertaken22. We then compared fasting and post-oral
fat tolerance test (OFTT) complement levels in PCOS women (n=20) and
healthy controls (n=20) with similar insulin sensitivity (cohort 2), in
order to determine any contribution of insulin resistance and
postprandial lipaemia to complement activation.