title: Association between circulating adiponectin levels and polycystic ovarian syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low adiponectin levels in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) have been largely attributed to obesity which is common among these patients. In addition, evidence also suggests that low adiponectin in PCOS may be related to insulin resistance (IR) in these women. However, studies on the role of adiponectin in younger and lean patients are limited. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the association of adiponectin levels in young and lean women with PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was conducted at the Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. Cases were 75 patients of PCOS with Body Mass Index (BMI) &23 aged 16-35 years and 75 healthy age and BMI matched controls were selected from family and friends of the cases. Demographic details, family history and past medical history were obtained through interview by a physician. Anthropometric measurements included weight and height of the participants. Fasting glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), insulin, adiponectin, and androgen levels were determined. IR was calculated using homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between adiponectin and PCOS after adjusting for co-variates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On multivariable analysis, PCOS cases were 3.2 times more likely to have low adiponectin level (OR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.49-6.90, p-value 0.003) compared to the controls after adjustment for age, BMI, family history, marital status, total cholesterol, HDL level and IR. Females with a family history of PCOS were significantly more likely to have lower adiponectin (OR = 3.32, 95% CI 1.27-8.67, p-value 0.014) compared to those who did not have a family history of PCOS. The associations of IR and family history with low adiponectin level also remained statistically significant after adjustments for covariates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum adiponectin levels are independently associated with PCOS and are only partly explained by IR. Adiponectin level may serve as a potential independent biomarker for diagnosis of PCOS in young and lean women with fewer symptoms, or women with a family history of PCOS.
authors: Saira Saeed
authors: SS
authors: Mirza
authors: Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, 1-Lilybank Gardens, G12 8RZ Glasgow, UK. Kashif.shafique@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors: Kashif
authors: K
authors: Shafique
authors: Abdul Rauf
authors: AR
authors: Shaikh
authors: Naveed Ali
authors: NA
authors: Khan
authors: Masood
authors: M
authors: Anwar Qureshi
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010154:Pakistan; D010375:Pedigree; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin