Serum leptin level-insulin resistance-based correlation in polycystic ovary syndrome obese and non-obese sufferer female

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common heterogeneous endocrine disorder, affecting 5-10% of females with hyperandrogenism and prolonged anovulation.

This study was done to understand the serum leptin role in women with PCOS and its link with the body mass index (BMI) and insulin resistance (IR).

This 1-year study was conducted in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as Infertility Unite in AL-Diwaniyah Maternity and Pediatrics Teaching Hospital, Iraq, in which 40 patients with PCOS (study group) and 40 healthy (non-PCOS) patients (control group) participated. After BMI assessment, both the study and control groups were further stratified into subgroups as normal weight and overweight patients. Blood samples were obtained for all patients for the serum leptin level (SLL), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and serum insulin level. The HOMA-IR equation was used to estimate insulin resistance for all patients.

SLL of the PCOS women (mean ± SD, 22.29 ± 10.96 ng/ml) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher (17.89 ± 8.29 ng/ml) when compared to that of the control group. Insulin level was significantly elevated in the obese control and PCOS women (16.87 ± 3.52) µ UI/L and (15.09 ± 5.27) µUI, respectively, compared to normal BMI control and PCOS patients (P ≤ 0.01). Insulin resistance was significantly higher in obese (control and PCOS) patients (2.47 ± 0.40 and 2.30 ± 0.43, respectively), compared to normal BMI (control and PCOS) patients (P ≤ 0.01).

In obese patients, serum leptin significantly correlated with BMI in the presence of hyperinsulinemia and elevated insulin resistance.