Studying the Starvation Effect on Androgen Metabolism in 20 Healthy Young Women and Comparison to Women With PCOS.

In this study, the investigators wanted to investigate the energy homeostasis and the steroid metabolism of 20 healthy, young and normal weight women aged between 16-35 years before and after a 48 hours fasting period. The following substrates and hormone concentrations representing the carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism will be measured from plasma or urine before and after fasting: glucose, insulin, lactate, alpha-synucleine, free fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate (ketone bodies), carnitine (surrogate for acetyl-CoA) and alanine (amino acids). In addition, the investigators will measure 67 steroid metabolites by GC/MS and Biokrates AbsolutIDQ Steroid Assay in all collected urines and blood samples. In the analysis of the data, the investigators will focus on correlations between biochemical parameters of the energy metabolism and parameters of the steroid metabolism, specifically the androgens. In addition, the steroid profiles obtained from healthy young women before and after fasting will be compared to steroid profiles of PCOS women in search for specific differences.