Serum betatrophin levels are significantly increased in obese patients compared to lean patients regardless to the presence of PCOS

Abstract

Betatrophin, which regulates glucose metabolism, is primarily expressed in liver and fat tissue. We aimed to investigate betatrophin levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) that is the most common endocrine pathology in women of reproductive age. A total of 69 women were included in this prospective study: 35 patients with PCOS (18 obese and 17 lean) and 34 healthy controls (17 obese and 17 lean). Patients who met the criteria were compared regarding betatrophin levels and other hormonal values. Serum betatrophin level did not differ between obese PCOS patients and obese controls, and lean PCOS patients and lean controls; while significantly increased in obese PCOS patients and controls compared to lean PCOS patients and controls. Total testosterone and androstenedione were significantly higher in patients with PCOS than in controls both in the obese and lean groups, while sex hormone–binding globulin was significantly lower in patients with PCOS than in controls both in the obese and lean groups. However, remaining hormone values were similar between groups. Betatrophin level was significantly increased in obese patients compared to lean patients independent to the presence of PCOS.

摘要

betatrophin调节糖代谢, 主要在肝脏和脂肪组织中表达。本文旨在研究多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)患者的betatrophin水平, PCOS是育龄期妇女最常见的内分泌疾病。本前瞻性研究共纳入69名女性：35名PCOS患者(18名肥胖型和17名瘦型)和34名健康对照(17名肥胖者和17名瘦者)。对符合标准的患者其betatrophin水平和其他激素水平进行比较。血清betatrophin水平在肥胖型PCOS患者与肥胖对照组、瘦型PCOS患者与瘦型对照组之间无明显差异, 而肥胖型PCOS患者与对照的血清β-托啡肽水平显著高于瘦型PCOS患者与对照。不论肥胖型还是瘦型, PCOS患者的总睾酮和雄烯二酮均显著高于对照组, 但PCOS患者性激素结合球蛋白显著低于对照组。然而, 各组之间其余激素水平相似。不论是否是PCOS, 肥胖者体内betatrophin水平显著高于瘦者。

The Chinese abstracts are translated by Prof. Dr. Xiangyan Ruan and her team: Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100026, China.

Keywords:

• Betatrophin
• PCOS
• obesity
• total testosterone
• sex hormone–binding globulin

Disclosure statement

There is no conflict of interest.