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Antiandrogenic Contraceptives Increase Serum Adiponectin in Obese Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients
Author(s) -
LuqueRamírez Manuel,
ÁlvarezBlasco Francisco,
EscobarMorreale Héctor F.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2008.491
Subject(s) - medicine , polycystic ovary , endocrinology , adiponectin , leptin , metformin , androgen excess , androgen , insulin resistance , adipocyte , insulin , obesity , hormone , adipose tissue
Increasing evidence suggests that adipocyte function is altered in the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as a result of androgen excess, providing an explanation for its frequent association with abdominal adiposity and insulin resistance. We here compared the response of serum adiponectin and leptin levels to the amelioration of androgen excess by means of treatment with an antiandrogenic oral contraceptive pill, as compared with the response to insulin sensitization with metformin. Thirty‐four women presenting with PCOS were randomized to treatment with an oral contraceptive containing 35 µg ethinyl‐estradiol plus 2 mg cyproterone acetate (Diane 35 Diario) or with metformin (850 mg twice daily). Serum adiponectin and leptin levels were evaluated at baseline and after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. In obese PCOS women, treatment with Diane 35 Diario resulted in an increase in serum adiponectin levels and in the adiponectin/leptin ratio, in parallel with a marked decrease in serum androgen concentrations, whereas no statistically significant changes were observed during treatment with metformin. On the contrary, leptin concentrations did not show any statistically significant change during the study with any of the drugs studied here. In summary, our present results might suggest a direct inhibitory effect of androgen excess on adiponectin secretion by adipocytes in obese PCOS women, supporting the hypothesis that androgen excess contributes to adipocyte dysfunction in these women.