Circulating levels of obestatin and copeptin in obese and nonobese women with polycystic ovary syndrome

ObjectivePolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies, affecting 5–8% of reproductive-age women. It is associated with insulin resistance, central obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular diseases. The current study was undertaken to evaluate serum copeptin and obestatin levels, carotid artery intima-media thickness, and brachial artery flow mediated dilatation in obese and nonobese women with PCOS and age-matched healthy controls and to investigate their relationship with each other and with clinical, metabolic, and hormonal parameters and cardiovascular risk factors.MethodIn the study population, we analyzed 60 patients with PCOS and 30 age-matched healthy women as controls. The patients with PCOS were divided into two groups based on body mass index (BMI): obese group (BMI > 30 kg/m2, n = 30) or nonobese group (BMI < 30 kg/m2, n = 30). History was obtained and a physical examination, peripheral venous blood sampling, and carotid and brachial artery ultrasonography were performed. Serum copeptin and obestatin levels, total testosterone, C-reactive protein (CRP), glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT), and brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) were determined and compared among the groups.ResultsWomen with PCOS, especially obese ones, had higher triglycerides, HOMA-IR, total testosterone, CRP, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and lower HDL. Serum obestatin levels were significantly lower in the obese PCOS group than they were in the nonobese and control groups (p < 0.001). Serum copeptin levels were significantly higher in the obese PCOS group than they were in the nonobese PCOS and control groups (p < 0.001). CIMT values were similar among the groups (p > 0.05). Brachial artery FMD was lower in the PCOS groups than it was in the control group (p < 0.001). Obestatin and FMD values were negatively correlated with cardiovascular risk factors, whereas copeptin was positively correlated. A significant positive correlation was found between copeptin, BMI, WHR, hirsutism score, total testosterone, and HOMA-IR. There was no correlation between CIMT, copeptin, obestatin, and FMD. A positive correlation was seen between CIMT, BMI, triglycerides, and HOMA-IR.ConclusionCopeptin and obestatin may provide useful information regarding future cardiovascular risk in PCOS patients as copeptin was positively correlated and obestatin was negatively correlated with cardiovascular risk factors.