Plasma adiponectin and resistin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: relation to body mass index and insulin resistance

Aim: To compare the serum levels of adiponectin and resistin between patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy control subjects matched for age and body mass index (BMI), and to assess possible correlations of adiponectin and resistin to the hormonal and metabolic parameters of the syndrome. Materials and methods: Fifty five patients with PCOS diagnosis composed of 25 obese, 13 overweight, 17 normal weight subjects, and 49 healthy women matched for age and BMI were included in this study. Hormone and lipid profile, adiponectin, and resistin were measured in all cases. Results: Serum adiponectin levels were similar in the lean PCOS patients and the healthy control group. In obese patients and the control groups, serum adiponectin levels were significantly lower than those in the lean control group. Serum adiponectin levels were similar in the obese PCOS and the obese control groups. Serum resistin levels were similar in both patient and control groups. There was a correlation between serum adiponectin levels and fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, triglyceride, and HDL-C in the PCOS group. A significant correlation in the positive direction was observed among serum resistin levels and BMI in the patient group. Conclusion: Our study showed that serum adiponectin levels were lower in obese women with PCOS than in the normal weight control group. There was a negative correlation between serum adiponectin levels with insulin resistance. We suggest that resistin is not associated with PCOS pathogenesis but it may be an adipocytokine that is affected by BMI.