Circulating vaspin levels and nutritional status and insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to assess the associations between circulating vaspin levels and nutritional status (assessed on tha basis of BMI) as well as insulin resistance in PCOS.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Eighty-seven PCOS women, 48 obese and 39 normal weight, were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. Seventy-two Non-PCOS women, 41 obese and 31 normal weight, constituted a control group. Body mass, height and waist circumference as well as body composition by bioimpedance were measured. In the morning (16h after the last meal) we determined: serum glucose, insulin, androgens, gonadotropin (LH, FSH) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) as well as plasma vaspin levels. Standard HOMA-IR formula was used to assess insulin resistance (IR).

RESULTS

Plasma vaspin levels were significantly lower in PCOS, both normal weight and obese, than in Non-PCOS groups. Vaspin levels were similar in normal weight and obese PCOS subgroups. There was no association between plasma vaspin levels and anthropometric parameters in PCOS group. While in Non-PCOS group a negative correlation between plasma vaspin levels and body mass (r = -0.26; p < 0.05) was found. We did not observe correlations between plasma vaspin levels and serum glucose and insulin concentrations as well as HOMA-IR values, however, in multivariable, stepwise backward regression waist circumference and HOMA-IR values explained 18.0% of plasma vaspin levels variability in the study subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

PCOS occurrence is associated with decreased vaspin levels. The influence of nutritional status on vaspin level observed in Non-PCOS is abolished in PCOS women, possibly by more severe insulin resistance.