title: The effect of weight loss and treatment with metformin on serum vaspin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: Many patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have insulin resistance, obesity (mostly visceral) and glucose intolerance, conditions associated with abnormalities in the production of vaspin, a novel adipokine that appears to preserve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. The aim of the study was to assess serum vaspin levels in PCOS and the effects on vaspin levels of metformin or of weight loss. We studied 79 patients with PCOS and 50 healthy female volunteers. Normal weight patients with PCOS (n=25) were treated with metformin 850 mg bid for 6 months. Overweight/obese patients with PCOS (n=54) were prescribed a normal-protein, energy-restricted diet for 6 months; half of them were also given orlistat 120 mg tid and the rest were given sibutramine 10 mg qd. At baseline and after 6 months, serum vaspin levels and anthropometric, metabolic and hormonal features of PCOS were determined. Overall, patients with PCOS had higher vaspin levels than controls (p=0.021). Normal weight patients with PCOS had higher vaspin levels than normal weight controls (p=0.043). Vaspin levels were non-significantly higher in overweight/obese patients with PCOS than in overweight/obese controls. In normal weight patients with PCOS, metformin reduced vaspin levels non-significantly. In overweight/obese patients with PCOS, diet plus orlistat or sibutramine did not affect vaspin levels. Vaspin levels were independently correlated with body mass index in women with PCOS (p=0.001) and with waist circumference in controls (p=0.015). In conclusion, serum vaspin levels are elevated in PCOS but neither a small weight loss nor metformin affect vaspin levels significantly.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Human Reproduction, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Ekaterini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koiou
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tziomalos
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dinas
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Katsikis
authors.forename: Emmanuil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kalaitzakis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delkos
authors.forename: Eleni A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kandaraki
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panidis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003503:Cyclobutanes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077403:Orlistat; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015843:Serpins / Q000097:blood*; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D003503:Cyclobutanes; D007783:Lactones; C507339:SERPINA12 protein, human; D015843:Serpins; D008687:Metformin; D000077403:Orlistat; C058254:sibutramine