Correlation of serum Nesfatin 1 level with metabolic and clinical parameters in Indian women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome

Background: Objective of the study was to compare serum Nesfatin 1 levels in Indian women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and to evaluate the association of serum Nesfatin 1 with metabolic and clinical parameters. Methods: 40 PCOS and 40 age and body mass index (BMI) matched non PCOS controls were enrolled. Comparison of hormonal (serum Nesfatin 1, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, testosterone, and estadiol) metabolic (blood pressure, fasting and post prandial blood glucose and insulin, HOMA-IR) and clinical (acne, acanthosis nigricans and hirsutism) parameters was done between two groups. Student’s t test, Mann Whitney test, Pearson’s correlation test was used. P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There was a significant difference in levels of serum Nesfatin 1 in PCOS subjects and controls (8.6 ng/ml versus 0.75 ng/ml, p<0.01). Positive correlation was present between serum nesfatin 1 level and post prandial plasma glucose (r=0.009; p<0.009). A positive correlation was also present between serum Nesfatin 1 levels and AMH (r=0.512; p<0.01). No correlation was found between serum Nesfatin 1 and other endocrine, cardiovascular and metabolic parameters. Serum LH levels, LH/FSH ratio, post prandial plasma glucose and post prandial insulin were significantly higher (p<0.05) in PCOS subjects compared to controls. Conclusions: Nesfatin 1 levels were ten times higher in PCOS subjects compared to controls irrespective of age and BMI. A positive correlation was observed between serum Nesfatin 1 and post prandial plasma glucose levels which indicates Nesfatin 1 may be a reliable marker of PCOS suggesting energy homeostasis imbalance in these women.