title: β-endorphins Plasma Level is Higher in Lean Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The evaluation the β-endorphin plasma levels in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome as well as in women without this disorder. The associations between β-endorphins and other laboratory parameters were also investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  31 women lean, defined as women with normal range body mass index, 15 with polycystic ovary syndrome and 16 without this disorder were included to the study. In all the patients the level of β-endorphins was measured. Also the diagnostic laboratory profile including hormone assessment was made in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences in β-endorphin levels between the 2 groups. The β-endorphin level was higher in the polycystic ovary syndrome group compared to the healthy controls (15.5±4.37 pg/ml vs. 6.9±2.47 pg/ml, p<0.0001). The β-endorphin levels positively correlated with cortisol at 8 am (R=0.632, p=0.011) and negatively correlated with sex hormone binding globuline (R=0.518, p=0.0478) in polycystic ovary syndrome group. Increase in β-endorphin level of 1 pg/ml was associated with an increase of cortisol at 8 am level of 1.134 µg/dl and decrease of sex hormone binding globuline of 0.948 nmol/l in polycystic ovary syndrome group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that the levels of β-endorphins were significantly higher in lean patients with polycystic ovary syndrome than in lean controls. Moreover, β-endorphins levels were found to be correlated with other hormonal parameters. In this respect, β-endorphins may play a role in polycystic ovary syndrome pathophysiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiałka
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Milewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spałkowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krzyczkowska-Sendrakowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, L. Rydygiera Hospital in Brzesko, Poland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wasyl
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, L. Rydygiera Hospital in Brzesko, Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pełka
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krzysiek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin