Serum total L-carnitine levels in non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome

BACKGROUND: Carnitine plays essential roles in energy production, oxidative stress and glucose metabolism. This study was planned to determine serum total l-carnitine levels in non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: There were 27 non-obese women with PCOS and 30 healthy, age- and body mass index (BMI) matched controls were evaluated in this controlled clinical study. Serum lipid sub-fractions, fasting glucose, insulin and other hormones (gonadotrophins, androgens) and total l-carnitine levels were measured. Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) was used to estimate insulin resistance. RESULTS: The women with PCOS had significantly higher serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, total testosterone, free androgen index (FAI), luteinizing hormone (LH), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, non-high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR measurement and LH/FSH ratios than healthy women. However, total l-carnitine and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels were significantly lower in women with PCOS. l-Carnitine level was negatively correlated with FAI, but positively correlated with SHBG. Multiple regression analysis revealed that SHBG was a strong predictor of serum total l-carnitine level. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased total l-carnitine levels may be associated with hyperandrogenism and/or insulin resistance in non-obese women with PCOS. Long-term studies are needed to evaluate carnitine metabolism in PCOS, especially with regard to the molecular basis. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved

Effects of intranasal estradiol treatment on serum paraoxonase and lipids in healthy, postmenopausal women

Background/Aims: Serum lipid concentrations worsen after the menopause because of estrogen deficiency, leading to an increased atherogenic pattern. It is known that serum paraoxonase (PON1) activity prevents the development of atherosclerosis. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to observe the effects of intranasal 17ß-estradiol (300 µg/day) on serum PON1 and lipid levels in healthy postmenopausal women. Methods: 48 healthy, postmenopausal women were enrolled into this cross-sectional study. 28 subjects without an intact uterus and ovaries were using single-dose (300 µg/day) intranasal 17ß-estradiol and 20 subjects with spontaneous natural menopause were not on any hormone therapy. Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, serum follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, fasting glucose, insulin, lipid fractions and PON1 levels were measured. Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-R) was used to estimate insulin resistance. Results: The higher estradiol, high-density lipoprotein and salt-stimulated paraoxonase (SSP) levels were observed in intranasal 17ß-estradiol users in comparison with non-users. There were no statistically significant differences in BMI, blood pressures, other lipid fractions, basal paraoxonase, arylesterase, fasting glucose and insulin levels, HOMA-R between the groups. SSP was inversely associated with fasting insulin levels and HOMA-R. Conclusion: These observations may suggest that intranasal 17ß-estradiol does not have harmful effects on the PON1 activity and lipid metabolism. Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG

Paraoxonase levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To determine paraoxonase (PON1) levels and whether paraoxonase activity is associated with an increased propensity for the development of cardiovascular disease in women with polycystic (PCOS)