Non-obese Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Group Research Articles

Basal leptin concentrations in women with normal and dysfunctional ovarian conditions

Objective: To determine whether leptin is involved in ovarian function. Methods: Fasting serum samples were obtained from 20 women with normal menstrual cycles who were either obese or non-obese: 12 non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), 8 obese patients with PCOS, 10 patients with stress-related hypothalamic amenorrhea, and 8 patients with weight loss-related hypothalamic amenorrhea. Results: Serum leptin levels were strongly related to body mass index (BMI) in each group, but there was no difference in the mean serum leptin levels among the BMI-matched study groups. A significant difference in the mean serum leptin levels was found between the non-obese and obese control groups ( P<0.001) and between the non-obese and obese PCOS groups ( P<0.00 1). Conclusions: These findings indicate that circulating leptin levels in women with normal menstrual cycles and those with ovarian dysfunction are strongly related to BMI. Leptin does not appear to be primarily involved in regulating ovarian function.

Leptin levels and insulin sensitivity in obese and non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

The study was conducted to assess leptin levels and insulin sensitivity in obese and non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Twenty-two women with PCOS and 19 control healthy women were included in the study, divided into obese and non-obese groups. Leptin was determined using Linco Research radioimmunoassay while insulin sensitivity was calculatedfrom intravenous glucose tolerance tests with frequent blood sampling using MINMOD analysis. Significantly higher basal leptin levels were found in obese compared to non-obese PCOS (31.76 ± 3.06 vs. 10.42 ± 2.31 ng/ml; p < 0.05) as well as in obese in comparison to non-obese controls(29.16 ± 5.06 vs 8.51 ± 0.88 ng/ml; p < 0.05). A negative correlation was found between insulin sensitivity and leptin levels in both obese (r = -0.2480; p > 0.05) and non-obese PCOS groups (t = -0.4620; p > 0.05). In conclusion, high serum leptin, insulin and testosterone levels together with reduced insulin sensitivity were found in obese PCOS women, suggesting that high leptin levels could be a characteristic of the obese PCOS phenotype.