Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a highly prevalent heterogeneous disease associated with ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenemia. Recent data support a critical role of neuroendocrine dysfunction and metabolic disturbances in the pathophysiology of the syndrome, including hyperleptinaemia. Accumulating evidence suggests that circadian desynchrony is linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Both prevalence and incidence of the metabolic syndrome is very high in women with PCOS.

Objective: To examine daily fluctuations in serum levels of melatonin, leptin and ghrelin in women with PCOS and MetS

Patients and methods: The study included 12 women with PCOS and MetS and age-and BMI-matched 12 women with MetS without PCOS. The diagnosis PCOS was made according to the Rotterdam criteria. MetS was verified against IDF criteria (2009). Anthropometric measurements and circulating levels of melatonin, leptin and ghrelin at 3AM and 8AM, fasting insulin, fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Ver. 26.0. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Women with PCOS and MetS had significantly higher levels of 8AM leptin (P=0.02), fasting insulin (P=0.05) and HOMA-IR (P=0.05) compared to the patients with MetS only. In both groups we did not find significant difference between day and night melatonin and ghrelin levels. In women with PCOS and MetS we found significant difference between day and night leptin levels (P=0.37) while such difference was missing in women with MetS only. In both groups there was preserved cortisol rhythm.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that leptin is increased, but with preserved circadian rhythm in women with PCOS. Circadian misalignment of melatonin and ghrelin rhythms might be associated with metabolic dysregulation in women with PCOS and metabolic syndrome.

Key Words: PCOS, Metabolic syndrome, Leptin, Ghrelin, Melatonin Rhythm