Serum pattern of circulating adipokines throughout the physiological menstrual cycle

This study investigated the serum levels of resistin, adiponectin and leptin during the physiological menstrual cycle. Sixteen women (age: 19-30 years; body mass index: 19.46-24.9) with regular menstrual cycles participated. Fasting blood samples were collected on alternate days throughout a full menstrual cycle. Mean resistin concentrations were slightly higher during the luteal phase (5.30+/-0.23 ng/ml) compared to the follicular (4.68+/-0.07 ng/ml) and midcycle (4.86+/-0.09 ng/ml) phases (p=0.032). Mean leptin concentrations during the follicular phase (18.14+/-0.28 ng/ml) were significantly lower compared to the midcycle (21.79+/-0.29 ng/ml, p=0.006) and luteal phases (23.75+/-0.64 ng/ml, p<0.001). The variation of adiponectin concentrations throughout the menstrual cycle was not significant. According to the results, circulating resistin, likewise leptin concentrations vary significantly during the physiological menstrual cycle presenting with higher values during the luteal phase. This pattern, although its physiological importance is not clear, suggests that resistin, likewise to leptin, may have a role in the regulation of cyclic female reproductive functions. The stable adiponectin concentrations throughout the menstrual cycle indicate that this adipokine probably does not play a considerable role in female reproductive functions.