Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous, multi-causal, and genetically complex disorder, which is related to the failure in endocrine glands. Adiponectin has been reported to be low in PCOS, even in the absence of adiposity. Quercetin reduces serum glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels and increases the expression and secretion of adiponectin. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of quercetin on the adiponectin-mediated insulin sensitivity in PCOS patients. Eighty-four women with PCOS were selected and randomly assigned to 2 groups of treatment and control. The treatment group received 1 g quercetin (two 500 mg capsules) daily for 12 weeks, and the control group received placebo. In addition to anthropometric assessments, fasting serum levels of total adiponectin, high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin, glucose, insulin, testosterone, LH, and SHBG were also measured at the baseline and at the end of the trial. Quercetin could slightly increase the level of adiponectin by 5.56% as compared to placebo (adjusted p-value=0.001) and HMW adiponectin by 3.9% as compared to placebo (adjusted p-value=0.017), while it reduced the level of testosterone (0.71 ng/dl in quercetin vs. 0.77 ng/dl in placebo; p<0.001) and LH (8.42 IU/l in quercetin vs. 8.68 IU/l in placebo; p=0.009). HOMA-IR levels were also significantly (p<0.001) lower in quercetin (1.84) group compared to placebo group (2.21). Oral quercetin supplementation was effective in improving the adiponectin-mediated insulin resistance and hormonal profile of women with PCOS.

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Visfatin is increased in obese children and adolescents, and has a more prominent association with IR and MetS parameters, compared with leptin and adiponectin.

Background: Ghrelin is a 28-amino acid peptide with an orexigenic property, which is predominantly produced by the stomach. Acylated ghrelin is the active form of this hormone. Obestatin is a 23-amino acid peptide which is produced by post-translational modification of a protein precursor that also produces ghrelin. Obestatin has the opposite effect of ghrelin on food intake. The aim of this study was to evaluate acylated ghrelin and obestatin levels and their ratio in obese and normal-weight children and adolescents, and their association with metabolic syndrome (MetS) parameters. Methods: Serum acyl-ghrelin, obestatin, leptin, insulin, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), lipid profile, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were evaluated in 73 children and adolescents (42 obese and 31 control). Insulin resistance was calculated by a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). MetS was determined according to IDF criteria. Results: Acyl-ghrelin levels were significantly lower in obese subjects compared to the control group and lower in obese children with MetS compared to obese subjects without MetS. Obestatin was significantly higher in obese subjects compared to that of the control, but it did not differ significantly among those with or without MetS. Acyl-ghrelin to obestatin ratio was significantly lower in obese subjects compared to that in normal subjects. Acyl-ghrelin showed significant negative and obestatin showed significant positive correlations with body mass index (BMI), BMI Z-score, leptin, insulin, and HOMA-IR. Acyl-ghrelin had a significant negative correlation with MDA as an index of oxidative stress. Conclusion: Ghrelin is decreased and obestatin is elevated in obesity. Both of these hormones are associated with insulin resistance, and ghrelin is associated with oxidative stress. The balance between ghrelin and obestatin seems to be disturbed in obesity.

Background: Vitamin D (VD) may increase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and subsequently PPAR-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) and irisin levels and these improvements may reduce insulin resistance (IR). The aim was to assess the effects of vitamin D supplementation on SIRT1, irisin, and IR in overweight/obese type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. Methods: Ninety T2D males and females were recruited as a clinical trial study (mean of age and body mass index (BMI) of intervention and placebo groups were 50.05 ± 10.17 and 50.36 ± 10.2 yrs. and 31.37 ± 3.4 and 30.43 ± 3.2 kg/m 2 , respectively). The inclusion criteria were T2D, VD deficient, BMI > 25 kg/m 2 , and serum HbA1c < 8.5%. The exclusion criteria were using vitamin and mineral supplements, having any acute disease, recent modifying dose or type of drugs. The supplementation was 50,000 IU/week VD or placebo for 8 weeks. The demographic characteristics, anthropometrics, dietary intakes and physical activity status, sun exposure status, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), irisin, SIRT1, 25-hydroxy D3 (25(OH)VD), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) were determined. The significant P-value was ≤0.05. Results: The increase of serum VD, SIRT1, and irisin in the intervention group was significant (p < 0.001). HbA1c was decreased significantly by 1%. The changes in the other glucose indices (FBS, insulin, and IR) were non-significant. Conclusions: VD supplementation may improve T2D by decreasing HbA1c and increasing SIRT1 and irisin in VD deficient T2D patients. Further trials are suggested. Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT201604202365N11. Registered 21/08/2016, http://en.irct. ir/trial/2019.

Background Obesity is associated with oxidative stress. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is the first line of defense against reactive oxygen species (ROS), eliminating the strong superoxide radical and producing H2O2, which can then be degraded by catalase (CAT). The main objective of this study was to evaluate the gene expression antioxidant enzymes (Mn-SOD and CAT) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of obese and normal-weight children, and its association with anthropometric and biochemical parameters. Methods Thirty obese and 30 control subjects between the ages of 8 and 16 years were enrolled in this study. Serum insulin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and insulin resistance was calculated using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Biochemical parameters were also measured. PBMCs of the subjects were separated and Mn-SOD and CAT gene expression was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results Mn-SOD and CAT gene expression was significantly lower in the obese group compared with the control group (p<0.01). Also, a positive correlation was observed between the gene expression of Mn-SOD and CAT and body mass index (BMI), fasting blood sugar, insulin resistance, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) cholesterol, triglycerides (TG) and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Conclusions Induction of antioxidants, especially Mn-SOD and CAT, can lead to reduction of oxidative stress and prevent the complications of obesity in children.