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Adipsin levels high in PCOS
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Women with polycystic ovary syndrome had significantly higher levels of adipsin compared with women without the disorder, and the protein was associated with increased cardiovascular risk and metabolic disturbances, study data show.
Mehmet Calan, MD, of the division of endocrinology and metabolism, department of internal medicine at the Training and Research Hospital in Turkey, and colleagues evaluated 144 women (mean age, 26.9 years) with PCOS and 144 age- and BMI-matched control without PCOS to determine whether circulating adipsin levels are altered in PCOS and whether there is a relationship between adipsin and metabolic parameters or carotid intima-media thickness.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measured circulating adipsin levels, and metabolic and hormonal parameters and carotid intima-media thickness also were measured.
Circulating adipsin levels were elevated in the PCOS group (91 ng/mL) compared with controls (60 ng/mL; P < .001), as was carotid intima-media thickness (0.82 mm vs. 0.57 mm; P < .001). Fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), serum free testosterone and total testosterone levels also were elevated in the PCOS group (P < .001 for all; however, P for total testosterone = .016).
Participants with overweight (BMI 25 kg/m2), regardless of group, had significantly higher circulating adipsin levels compared with participants with BMI less than 25 kg/m2.
After adjustment for potential confounders, the OR for PCOS was 3.25 (95% CI, 2.64-4) for participants in the highest quartile of adipsin compared with participants in the lowest quartile.
“Growing evidence suggests that the complement system contributes to the development of low-grade inflammation,” the researchers wrote. “PCOS is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, and our results suggest that the inflammatory marker [high-sensitivity] CRP levels are increased in PCOS women. Moreover, adipsin is closely related to [high-sensitivity] CRP. This link may explain the association of adipsin with metabolic disturbances and increased CV risk. Our results reveal elevated circulating adipsin levels in PCOS. More importantly, increased adipsin levels are significantly associated with high odds of having PCOS, even after adjusting for BMI, [high-sensitivity] CRP and other potential confounders.” – by Amber Cox
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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