A cross-sectional study of the association between circulating sex hormone-binding globulin levels and selected adipokines in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Dariusz Ciura; Aleksander Jerzy Owczarek; Grzegorz Franik; Piotr Kocełak; Leszek Markuszewski; Paweł Madej; Jerzy Chudek; Magdalena Olszanecka-Glinianowicz

doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1183961

A cross-sectional study of the association between circulating sex hormone-binding globulin levels and selected adipokines in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Front Med (Lausanne). 2023 Jul 25:10:1183961. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1183961. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Dariusz Ciura¹, Aleksander Jerzy Owczarek¹, Grzegorz Franik², Piotr Kocełak³, Leszek Markuszewski⁴, Paweł Madej², Jerzy Chudek^{2

5}, Magdalena Olszanecka-Glinianowicz¹

Affiliations

¹ Health Promotion and Obesity Management Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
² Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
³ Pathophysiology Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
⁴ Faculty of Medical Sciences and Health Sciences University of Humanities and Technology, Radom, Poland.
⁵ Department of Internal Medicine and Oncological Chemotherapy, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.

Abstract

Introduction: Changes in the proportion of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory adipokines may reflect the accumulation of lipids in the liver and the development of insulin resistance. Both liver steatosis and insulin resistance result in decreased sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) synthesis. This study aimed to analyze associations between circulating SHBG and adipokines levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Material and methods: A cross-sectional cohort study involved 87 women with phenotype A of PCOS (39 normal weight and 48 obese). Body mass, height, and waist circumference were measured, and BMI was calculated. In addition, body composition was assessed using the bioimpedance method. Serum SHBG levels and plasma apelin-36 and apelin-12, adiponectin, leptin, omentin-1, and RBP-4 were determined by using the ELISA method. The participants were divided into subgroups with SHBG concentrations above and below this lower limit [N = 35 (40.2%) and N = 52 (59.8%), respectively].

Results: The median adiponectin, apelin-12, and apelin-36 levels were significantly lower, and leptin levels were significantly higher in the subgroup with low SHBG levels than that in the subgroup above the lower limit of the reference range, while there were no differences in median omentin-1 and RBP-4 between the study subgroups. There were positive correlations between SHBG and omentin-1, adiponectin, apelin-36, and apelin-12 levels, as well as negative correlation with leptin levels. However, after adjustment by BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percentage, only the association between SHBG and omentin-1 remained significant.

Conclusion: Our results show associations between circulating SHBG and adipokine levels in women with PCOS and support the role of hormonal dysfunction of the adipose tissue in the pathogenesis of PCOS.

Keywords: SHBG; adipokines; adipose tissue; nutritional status; polycystic ovary syndrome.

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the Medical University of Silesia grant no. KNW-1-162/N/0/O.