Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogenous endocrinopathy commonly diagnosed in reproductive age women, predisposing to the development of metabolic disturbances. However, the mechanisms underlying the connection between PCOS and metabolic disorders are still not well understood. The aim of the study was to investigate amino acid (AA) profile in women with PCOS and to assess its relation with metabolic disturbances.

Methods: 326 women: 209 diagnosed with PCOS and 117 healthy controls participated in the study. Anthropometrical, biochemical and hormonal parameters were assessed. A subgroup of patients with abdominal obesity (defined as the waist circumference ≥ 80 cm) was separated and included 143 PCOS patients and 74 controls. The gas–liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry was used to assess amino acids levels – branched chain amino acids (BCAAs): leucine, isoleucine, and valine, and the aromatic amino acids (AAAs): phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine.

Results: Statistical analysis showed significantly higher plasma levels of the BCAAs (540.4±97.0 nmol/ml vs 501.0±85.7 nmol/ml; P<0.001) and AAAs (162.8±22.6 nmol/ml vs 153.1±20.5 nmol/ml, P<0.001) in women with PCOS. Significant correlations (P<0.05) were also found in PCOS patients between both BMI and HOMA-IR and BCAAs (rs=0.34 for BMI and rs=0.39 for HOMA-IR) and AAAs (rs=0.15 for BMI and rs=0.23 for HOMA-IR). In the analysis of women with abdominal obesity, there were significant differences between PCOS subjects and controls in BCAAs (560.2±99.2 nmol/ml vs 513.5±78.1 nmol/ml; P<0.001) and AAAs (163.1±21.4 nmol/ml vs 156.7±20.1 nmol/ml, P=0.01).

Conclusions: Plasma amino acid profile is altered in women with PCOS and it is correlated with BMI and HOMA-IR. Additionally, in women with abdominal obesity BCAAs and AAAs concentrations are more severe altered in PCOS group. Derangement in the plasma amino acid profile might be an important connection between PCOS and metabolic disturbances, however, further studies are needed.