Assessing the variability and predictability of adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, resistin and their ratios) in non-obese and obese women with anovulatory polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the variability and predictability of adiponectin, leptin, resistin and their ratios in non-obese and obese women with anovulatory polycystic ovary syndrome (aPCOS).

Results: A total of 52 ovulatory controls (mean age = 31.63 ± 4.88 years, BMI = 25.33 ± 2.68 kg/m²); 54 non-obese (mean age = 32.11 ± 4.25 years, BMI = 25.72 ± 2.95 kg/m²) and 50 obese women with aPCOS (mean age = 33.64 ± 4.14 years, BMI = 39.19 ± 2.99 kg/m²) were recruited. The aPCOS group had lower adiponectin [13.0 (10.49-16.59) vs 18.42 (15.72-19.92) µg/ml, p < 0.0001], adiponectin: leptin ratio (A:L) [0.60 (0.35-0.88) vs 1.19 (0.92-1.37), p < 0.0001], and adiponectin: resistin ratio (A:R) [0.30 (0.21-0.43) vs 0.42 (0.32-0.62), p < 0.0001] but a higher leptin [20.02 (14.54-26.80) vs 16.17 (14.51-18.36) ng/ml, p < 0.0001] and leptin: resistin ratio (L:R) [0.53 (0.37-0.82) vs 0.40 (0.27-0.48), p < 0.0001] compared to the controls. The obese aPCOS group had lower adiponectin [11.04 (5.66-13.25) vs 14.18 (11.04-18.02), p < 0.0001 and 18.42 (15.72-19.92) µg/ml, p < 0.0001], A:L [0.36 (0.27-0.44) vs 0.78 (0.61-1.16), p < 0.0001 and 1.19 (0.92-1.37), p < 0.0001], and A:R [0.24 (0.17-0.38) vs 0.40 (0.23-0.58), p < 0.0001 and 0.42 (0.32-0.62), p < 0.0001] but a higher leptin [26.80 (14.28-32.09) vs 17.95 (14.86-21.26), p < 0.05 and 16.17 (14.51-18.36) ng/ml, p < 0.0001] and L:R [0.63 (0.46-1.03) vs 0.41 (0.30-0.61), p < 0.0001 and 0.40 (0.27-0.48), p < 0.0001] compared to the non-obese aPCOS and control group, respectively. A:L showed the best discriminatory power in predicting aPCOS (AUC = 0.83), followed by adiponectin alone (AUC = 0.79), L:R and leptin alone (both AUC = 0.69). Resistin alone had the poorest discriminatory power (AUC = 0.48).

Keywords: Adiponectin; Anovulation; Leptin; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Resistin.