Frequency of adiponectin gene polymorphisms in polycystic ovary syndrome and the association with serum adiponectin, androgen levels, insulin resistance and clinical parameters.

AIM: Although the association between adiponectin gene polymorphisms and insulin resistance has been investigated in many studies, there are only a few studies, which have investigated adiponectin gene polymorphisms in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of T45G polymorphisms localised in exon 2 of the adiponectin gene in a Turkish population with PCOS and to determine the association of T45G polymorphisms with insulin resistance and serum adiponectin levels in PCOS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-six patients with PCOS and 93 healthy control subjects were included in the study. Insulin resistance was estimated via HOMA-IR. Serum adiponectin levels were measured by ELISA. For determination of adiponectin gene polymorphisms, PCR was performed with appropriate primers after genomic DNA was obtained from the peripheral blood of the patients and control subjects.

RESULTS: Adiponectin levels were low in patients with PCOS than control subjects. There was no significant statistical difference between the PCOS and control groups with respect to the frequency of polymorphisms and the genotype distribution. Adiponectin gene polymorphisms were not associated with the anthropometric parameters, hyperandrogenism and adiponectin levels in PCOS. However, the fasting insulin level and insulin resistance were significantly higher and more frequent, respectively, in the polymorphic group compared to the other genotypes among patients with PCOS.

CONCLUSION: The risk of PCOS, hyperandrogenism in patients with PCOS and low serum adiponectin levels cannot be directly attributed to T45G adiponectin gene polymorphisms in exon 2, rather these polymorphisms may be associated with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia in PCOS.