The Association of Serum Levels of Leptin and Ghrelin with the Dietary Fat Content in Non-Obese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are at an increased risk of developing insulin resistance and abdominal obesity in the state of an improper diet balance. Leptin is a peptide considered to be a satiety hormone that plays an important role in the long-term energy balance, whereas ghrelin is a hormone that controls short-term appetite regulation and is considered a hunger hormone. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between serum leptin and ghrelin concentrations and the dietary macronutrient content in PCOS women. We examined 73 subjects: 39 women diagnosed with PCOS by the Rotterdam criteria and 34 healthy controls, matched by the body mass index. The subjects completed a consecutive three-day dietary diary to identify the macronutrient and micronutrient intake. Serum concentrations of leptin and total ghrelin were measured and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. The studied groups did not differ significantly in terms of the intake of macronutrients (proteins, fats, and carbohydrates) and serum concentrations of ghrelin and leptin (all p > 0.05). In the PCOS group, the serum leptin concentration positively correlated with the intake of total fat (r = 0.36, p = 0.02), total cholesterol (r = −0.36, p = 0.02), saturated fatty acids (r = 0.43, p < 0.01), and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (r = 0.37, p = 0.02), whereas the serum ghrelin concentration correlated in an inverse manner with the intake of total fat (r = −0.37, p = 0.02), MUFA (r = −0.37, p = 0.02), polyunsaturated fatty acids (r = −0.34, p = 0.03), and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (r = −0.38, p = 0.02). In this group, we also found a negative association of HOMA-IR with serum ghrelin levels (r = −0.4, p = 0.03) and a positive relationship with the serum leptin concentration (r = 0.5, p < 0.01) and relationships between HOMA-IR and total dietary fat (r = 0.38, p = 0.03) and MUFA (r = 0.35, p = 0.04) intake. In PCOS women, dietary components such as the total fat and type of dietary fat and HOMA-IR are positively connected to serum leptin concentrations and negatively connected to serum ghrelin concentrations, which may influence the energy balance.

Macronutrient intake modulates impact of EcoRI polymorphism of ApoB gene on lipid profile and inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes

“…Dietary components such as total fat and type of dietary fat, as well as HOMA-IR, are positively related to serum leptin concentrations while serum ghrelin concentrations are negatively related 30 . In the present study, diabetic patients with GA, AA genotype who consumed higher than median cholesterol have lower ghrelin concentration ( P = 0.01) (Fig.…”

“…Increased ghrelin levels are linked to lower HDL cholesterol levels and higher LDL cholesterol levels 61 . Dietary components such as total fat and type of dietary fat, as well as HOMA-IR, are positively related to serum leptin concentrations while serum ghrelin concentrations are negatively related 30 . BMI, nonHDL, and fibrinogen were found to be strong predictors of inflammatory marker concentrations in a multinomial logistic regression study 62 .…”

Elevated Serum Leptin Levels as a Predictive Marker for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

“…Risk factors of insulin resistance in PCOS patients include obesity and those related to androgen ( 25 ). In addition, the serum leptin concentration has shown a strong positive association with insulin resistance ( 26 ). Consistent with these studies, we found that serum leptin levels had a significant correlation with FSI and HOMA-IR levels.…”

Dietary Approaches to Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health

“…The authors recommended further prospective research to assess if limiting food products high in fat, especially SFA, would benefit metabolic status in women with PCOS. 73…”