title: Role of decreased circulating hepcidin concentrations in the iron excess of women with the polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepcidin inhibits the intestinal absorption of iron and its deficiency causes juvenile hemochromatosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the investigation was to study the involvement of hepcidin in the iron overload of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a case-control study followed by a randomized clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted at an academic hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four patients with PCOS and 30 women without hyperandrogenism, matched for age and body mass index, participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with PCOS were randomly allocated to treatment with either an antiandrogenic oral contraceptive or metformin for 24 wk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum hepcidin levels and ferritin to hepcidin molar ratios were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with PCOS showed decreased circulating hepcidin levels and increased ferritin to hepcidin molar ratios compared with controls. Patients with PCOS presenting with chronic oligoamenorrhea (an iron sparing mechanism) showed a paradoxical decrease in serum hepcidin levels and an increase in ferritin to hepcidin molar ratios compared with the patients who had regular anovulatory menstrual cycles and with the controls. The major predictor of circulating hepcidin concentrations was the presence of PCOS, whereas the main determinants of the ferritin to hepcidin molar ratio were the insulin sensitivity index and menstrual dysfunction. Serum hepcidin levels did not change during treatment with either metformin or the antiandrogenic oral contraceptive pill, yet patients treated with the oral contraceptive pill normalized the ferritin to hepcidin molar ratio.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with PCOS had reduced serum hepcidin concentrations that might contribute to their iron overload by favoring the intestinal absorption of iron. The imbalance between increased iron stores and reduced hepcidin levels was related to the insulin resistance and androgen excess characteristic of this syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Universidad de Alcalá, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo Km 9.1, E-28034 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luque-Ramírez
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Álvarez-Blasco
authors.forename: Macarena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alpañés
authors.forename: Héctor F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Escobar-Morreale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000886:Anthropometry; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D064451:Hepcidins; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008598:Menstruation / Q000502:physiology; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C578702:HAMP protein, human; D064451:Hepcidins; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D005293:Ferritins; D008687:Metformin; D007501:Iron