Increased fetuin-B levels are associated with carotid intima media thickness and hormonal-metabolic disturbances in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Objective: Fetuin-B is a novel peptide hormone involves in energy metabolism, atherosclerosis and reproductive system. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a reproductive and metabolic disorder associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors. We aimed to ascertain whether circulating fetuin-B levels were altered in women with PCOS and whether there was any association between fetuin-B and hormonal-metabolic parameters as well as carotid intima media thickness (CIMT). Material and Methods: Eighty women with PCOS and 80 ageand BMI-matched controls without PCOS were recruited to this cross-sectional study. Circulating fetuin-B levels were measured by ELISA. Metabolic-hormonal parameters and CIMT of recruited subjects were also determined. Results: Circulating fetuin-B levels were significantly elevated in women with PCOS compared to controls (409.54 ± 32.51 vs. 325.53 ± 26.86 ng/ml, P<0.001). PCOS subjects with insulin resistance showed significantly elevated circulating fetuin-B levels compared to those PCOS subjects without insulin resistance (416.03 ± 30.41 vs. 399.27 ± 33.56 ng/ml, P = 0.024). Overweight/obese women had significantly higher circulating fetuin-B levels than lean subjects in PCOS groups (416.32 ± 30.99 vs. 400.82 ± 32.77 ng/ml, P = 0.033). Fetuin-B levels positively correlated with BMI, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), free-androgen index (FAI), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), triglycerides and CIMT in PCOS subjects whereas fetuin-B negatively correlated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Moreover, binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk of having PCOS was increased in parallel with elevation of fetuin-B levels. Conclusion: Circulating fetuin-B levels were significantly increased in PCOS subjects and fetuin-B levels were closely related to cardiovascular risk and hormonal-metabolic disturbances in women with PCOS.