Plasma omentin and adiponectin levels as markers of adipose tissue dysfunction in normal weight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

It is suggested that disturbed adipokines release plays a role in PCOS pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to assess plasma levels of omentin and adiponectin as well as the omentin to adiponectin ratio, as markers of adipose tissue dysfunction in relation to hormonal or metabolic changes in PCOS. A cross-sectional study involved 87 PCOS (48 obese) and 72 non-PCOS women (41 obese). Anthropometric parameters and body composition were determined, and serum glucose, hormones, omentin-1 and adiponectin levels were measured. The adiponectin level was similar in PCOS and non-PCOS groups, but, in both, was significantly lower in obese compared with normal weight subgroups, while the omentin-1 level was significantly lower in the PCOS compared with the non-PCOS group, and not related to body mass. The adiponectin to omentin-1 ratio (AOR) was significantly higher in the PCOS than non-PCOS group. Moreover, AOR was significantly higher in the normal weight than in obese subgroups in both PCOS and non-PCOS groups. Multiple regression analyses revealed that AOR variability is explained by oestradiol level and all anthropometric parameters as well as FAI, but not LH to FSH and HOMA-IR values. Our results suggest secondary to insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism impairment of hormonal stroma adipose tissue function in PCOS, independent of nutritional status. Contrarily, the adipocyte hormonal dysfunction is primarily dependent on excessive fat accumulation. It seems that the AOR may be useful in the assessment of adipose tissue dysfunction not only in PCOS.