The BsmI VDR polymorphism seems to influence BMI, while the FokI VDR polymorphism appears to affect insulin sensitivity and serum cHDL level.

Background: Myocardial fibrosis is one of the mechanisms underlying left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in obese patients and may result from dysregulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) represent a regulatory system playing a crucial role in ECM metabolism. Objectives: We sought to assess plasma levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in obese young women and to evaluate the association between MMP/TIMP system components and LV function in this population. Design: Prospective, cross-sectional study. Setting: University hospital. Patients: Seventy-one women aged o35 years with body mass index 430 kg m À2 and 30 healthy slim female controls. Main outcome measures: Plasma MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 measurements and echocardiographic studies, including LV strain/strain rate evaluation. Results: We demonstrated increased levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 and decreased MMP-2 in the obese population. LV dysfunction shown in patients with obesity was characterized by significantly lower values of strain/strain rate parameters. Plasma MMP-2 correlated positively and TIMP-1 negatively with systolic strain (r ¼ 0.39, Po0.001 and r ¼ À0.40, Po0.001, respectively), peak systolic strain rate (r ¼ 0.38, Po0.001 and r ¼ À0.27, Po0.03, respectively) and peak early diastolic strain rate (r ¼ 0.40, Po0.001 and r ¼ À0.24, Po0.05, respectively). Plasma MMP-2, fasting insulin and body mass index proved the only independent determinants of strain/strain rate parameters of LV systolic and diastolic performance in obese subjects. Conclusions: In premenopausal obese women (1) plasma MMP/TIMP profile is altered, (2) abnormalities of LV function are related to the changes in the MMP/TIMP system that might promote attenuated ECM degradation, mainly to the downregulation of MMP-2.

In obese young women, fasting insulin, BMI, SHBG, and UAE are independent correlates of impaired LV performance. The contribution of PCO to LV function abnormalities is linked to IR, but not to other hormonal aberrations associated with this condition.

Irisin (Ir), a recently identified adipo-myokine, cleaved and secreted from the protein FNDC5 in response to physical activity, has been postulated to induce the differentiation of a subset of white adipocytes into brown fat and to mediate the beneficial effects on metabolic homeostasis. Metabolic syndrome (MS), a cluster of factors leading to impaired energy homeostasis, affects a significant proportion of subjects suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between Ir plasma concentrations and metabolic disturbances. The study group consisted of 179 PCOS patients and a population of 122 healthy controls (both groups aged 25-35 years). A subset of 90 subjects with MS was isolated. A positive association between Ir plasma level and MS in the whole group and in controls was found. In subjects with high adipose body content (>40%), Ir was higher than in lean persons (<30%). Our results showed a significant positive association between Ir concentration and android type of adipose tissue in the whole study group and in the control group. Understanding the role of Ir in increased energy expenditure may lead to the development of new therapeutics for obesity and obesity-related diseases.