Evaluation of insulin resistance and plasma levels for visfatin and resistin in obese and non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to evaluate insulin resistance and plasma levels of visfatin and resistin in obese and non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A total of 37 premenopausal PCOS patients with (n = 18, mean (SD) age 27.5 (5.7 years) or without obesity (n = 19, mean (SD) age 23.7 (3.1) years) and healthy volunteers (n = 18, mean (SD) age29.8 (4.1) years) were included in this study. Data on clinical characteristics, glycemic parameters and lipid parameters were recorded for each subject as were plasma visfatin and resistin levels. Mean (SD) HOMA-IR values were significantly higher in obese PCOS patients (3.4 (1.7)) compared with non-obese PCOS patients (2.0 (1.2), p<0.01) and controls (1.6 (0.8), p<0.01). No significant difference was noted between study groups in terms of plasma resistin (ng/mL) or visfatin (ng/mL) levels. There was no correlation between serum plasma visfatin (r = 0.127, p = 0.407) and resistin (r = -0.096, p = 0.544) levels and HOMA-IR. In conclusion, our findings revealed increased likelihood of metabolic and dyslipidemic manifestations in obese compared to non-obese PCOS patients, while no significant difference was noted in visfatin and resistin levels among PCOS patients in terms of co-morbid obesity and in comparison to controls.