Relationship of Serum Leptin and Ghrelin between Insulin Resistance and Anthropometric Indices in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the prevalent diseases in women. Insulin resistance is a predominant clinical feature in this syndrome. Leptin and ghrelin have significant effects on PCOS. Studies in this field are limited with conflicting results، so this study was designed to evaluate serum leptin and ghrelin and their relationship with insulin resistance and anthropometric indices in women with PCOS. This case-control study conducted with simple method sampling on 30 PCOS women and 30 healthy controls in Alzahra hospital of Tabriz in 2010. Weight، height، waist and hip circumferences، level of blood glucose، serum leptin and ghrelin were measured by standard methods. Body mass index (BMI)، waist to hip ratio (WHR) and insulin resistance were calculated. Mean of leptin، ghrelin and their relationship between insulin resistance، BMI and WHR were determined by SPSS software version 11. 5. Mean of serum leptin level and insulin resistance in PCOS patients were respectively 21. 68±4. 52 (ng/ml) and 3. 47±0. 54 IU and in control group were respectively 17. 96±3. 00 (ng/ml) and 1. 81±0. 31 IU (P=0. 001). Ghrelin level in PCOS patients and control groups were respectively 210. 33±10. 98 (ng/ml) and 216. 00±14. 76 picomole/liter (P=0. 08). There was a positive correlation between serum leptin level and BMI، WHR and insulin resistance in PCOS patients (r=0. 84، r=0. 55، r=0. 67، respectively، P<0. 05). In controls، serum leptin level was correlated with BMI and insulin resistance (r=0. 93، r=0. 77، respectively، P<0. 05). No significant relationship was found between serum ghrelin and insulin resistance and anthropometric indices in patients and controls. Serum leptin level is higher in PCOS patients but the difference of serum ghrelin level in two groups was not significant. In women with PCOS serum leptin is an effective factor in insulin resistance، while ghrelin is not. In these patients، serum leptin is influenced by anthropometric indices، while serum ghrelin is not.