Serum visfatin levels in non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome and matched controls

Abstract

ObjectiveThe purpose of the current study was to compare the circulating levels of visfatin between women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and those without PCOS and to assess the correlations between visfatin levels and various parameters.MethodsThis case-control study recruited 74 PCOS patients and 74 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls. Serum visfatin levels were evaluated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Women with PCOS were divided into 2 subgroups based on the presence of clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism. The possible differences in serum visfatin levels between the hyperandrogenic and non-hyperandrogenic groups were also assessed.ResultsVisfatin levels in PCOS patients were similar to those in the controls. However, hyperandrogenic patients had significantly higher mean serum visfatin levels than those in non-hyperandrogenic patients (3.87 ng/mL; 95% confidence intervals [CIs], 3.09–4.85 in hyperandrogenic group vs. 2.69 ng/mL; 95% CIs, 2.06–3.52 in non-hyperandrogenic group; P=0.038). In women with PCOS, visfatin levels positively correlated with BMI (r=0.23; P=0.047) and the log free androgen index (FAI) (r=0.27; P=0.021) and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (r=−0.37; P=0.025). Except for HDL cholesterol levels, these correlations were also observed in controls.ConclusionVisfatin levels in PCOS patients were similar to those in the controls. However, hyperandrogenic patients showed significantly higher serum visfatin levels than those of non-hyperandrogenic patients, and visfatin had a positive linear correlation with FAI in both PCOS patients and controls.

Association between serum visfatin levels and atherosclerotic plaque in patients with type 2 diabetes

“…Therefore, different from another adipose tissue-secreted hormone, leptin, which has confirmed gender-based difference [25], the actions of visfatin may not be regulated by sex hormones. In fact, numerous studies have reported the relationship between visfatin levels and lipoprotein metabolites in patients with metabolic disorders [26–28]. In line with these reports, we also found that serum visfatin levels correlated positively with waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, and TG.…”

Ovarian Expression of Adipokines in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Role for Chemerin, Omentin, and Apelin in Follicular Growth Arrest and Ovulatory Dysfunction?

“…Despite some conflicting results [52], a recent meta-analysis revealed that plasma visfatin is significantly increased in subjects presenting overweight/obesity, IR, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases [53]. A positive association between circulating visfatin and BMI has been reported by several authors [26,27,34,51] but not confirmed by others [52]. On the contrary, the role of visfatin in the regulation of female reproductive functions is supported by several evidences.…”

“…Moreover, some of these adipokines have been in vitro demonstrated to be implicated in human ovarian follicle function [20] and modulation of steroidogenesis [14,15,16,17,19,21]. Plasma levels of adiponectin [4], chemerin [22,23], resistin [24,25], visfatin [26,27], omentin [28,29], and apelin [19] seem to vary in women with PCOS, but the literature is poor, and results are often discordant [19,30,31,32,33,34]. Further, adipokines were predominantly assessed in blood samples, while very little is known concerning their variations in follicular fluid (FF) and GCs of women with PCOS [19,35,36,37].…”

Role of gut microbiota in the development of insulin resistance and the mechanism underlying polycystic ovary syndrome: a review

“…PCOS is a female reproductive endocrine disease closely related to chronic inflammation [28,61]. Here, Tremellen et al proposed the hypothesis of the "gut barrierendotoxemia-inflammation mechanism", which concerned the pathogenesis of PCOS [17].…”