Circulating vaspin levels and nutritional status and insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the associations between circulating vaspin levels and nutritional status (assessedon tha basis of BMI) as well as insulin resistance in PCOS.Material and methods: Eighty-seven PCOS women, 48 obese and 39 normal weight, were enrolled in the cross-sectionalstudy. Seventy-two Non-PCOS women, 41 obese and 31 normal weight, constituted a control group. Body mass, height andwaist circumference as well as body composition by bioimpedance were measured. In the morning (16h after the last meal)we determined: serum glucose, insulin, androgens, gonadotropin (LH, FSH) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) aswell as plasma vaspin levels. Standard HOMA-IR formula was used to assess insulin resistance (IR).Results: Plasma vaspin levels were significantly lower in PCOS, both normal weight and obese, than in Non-PCOSgroups. Vaspin levels were similar in normal weight and obese PCOS subgroups. There was no association between plasmavaspin levels and anthropometric parameters in PCOS group. While in Non-PCOS group a negative correlation betweenplasma vaspin levels and body mass (r = –0.26; p < 0.05) was found. We did not observe correlations between plasma vaspinlevels and serum glucose and insulin concentrations as well as HOMA-IR values, however, in multivariable, stepwise backwardregression waist circumference and HOMA-IR values explained 18.0% of plasma vaspin levels variability in the study subjects.Conclusions: PCOS occurrence is associated with decreased vaspin levels. The influence of nutritional status on vaspin levelobserved in Non-PCOS is abolished in PCOS women, possibly by more severe insulin resistance

Iron status in the elderly: a review of recent evidence

A comprehensive literature review of iron status in the elderly was undertaken in order to update a previous review (Fairweather-Tait et al, 2014); 138 papers were retrieved that described research on the magnitude of the problem, aetiology and age-related physiological changes that may affect iron status, novel strategies for assessing iron status with concurrent health conditions, hepcidin, lifestyle factors, iron supplements, iron status and health outcomes (bone mineral density, frailty, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney failure, cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases). Each section concludes with key points from the relevant papers. The overall findings were that disturbed iron metabolism plays a major role in a large number of conditions associated with old age. Correction of iron deficiency/overload may improve disease prognosis, but diagnosis of iron deficiency requires appropriate cut-offs for biomarkers of iron status in elderly men and women to be agreed. Iron deficiency (with or without anemia), anemia of inflammation, and anemia of chronic disease are all widespread in the elderly and, once identified, should be investigated further as they are often indicative of underlying disease. Management options should be reviewed and updated, and novel therapies, which show potential for treating anemia of inflammation or chronic disease, should be considered