title: Serum total L-carnitine levels in non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carnitine plays essential roles in energy production, oxidative stress and glucose metabolism. This study was planned to determine serum total L-carnitine levels in non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 27 non-obese women with PCOS and 30 healthy, age- and body mass index (BMI) matched controls were evaluated in this controlled clinical study. Serum lipid sub-fractions, fasting glucose, insulin and other hormones (gonadotrophins, androgens) and total L-carnitine levels were measured. Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) was used to estimate insulin resistance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The women with PCOS had significantly higher serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, total testosterone, free androgen index (FAI), luteinizing hormone (LH), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, non-high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR measurement and LH/FSH ratios than healthy women. However, total L-carnitine and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels were significantly lower in women with PCOS. L-Carnitine level was negatively correlated with FAI, but positively correlated with SHBG. Multiple regression analysis revealed that SHBG was a strong predictor of serum total L-carnitine level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased total L-carnitine levels may be associated with hyperandrogenism and/or insulin resistance in non-obese women with PCOS. Long-term studies are needed to evaluate carnitine metabolism in PCOS, especially with regard to the molecular basis.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Pamukkale University, School of Medicine, 20100 Denizli, Turkey.
authors: Semin Melahat
authors: SM
authors: Fenkci
authors: Veysel
authors: V
authors: Fenkci
authors: Ozer
authors: O
authors: Oztekin
authors: Simin
authors: S
authors: Rota
authors: Nedim
authors: N
authors: Karagenc
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D007328:Insulin; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002331:Carnitine