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Circulating gut microbiota metabolite trimethylamine N‐oxide and oral contraceptive use in polycystic ovary syndrome
Author(s) -
Eyupoglu Nesrin Damla,
Caliskan Guzelce Ezgi,
Acikgoz Aylin,
Uyanik Esra,
Bjørndal Bodil,
Berge Rolf K.,
Svardal Asbjørn,
Yildiz Bulent Okan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/cen.14101
Subject(s) - polycystic ovary , metabolite , trimethylamine n oxide , endocrinology , medicine , ovary , biology , physiology , trimethylamine , biochemistry , insulin resistance , obesity
Abstract Objectives Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with an increased cardiometabolic risk that might not necessarily translate into adverse cardiovascular outcome later in life. Recently, alterations in gut microbial composition have been reported in the syndrome. Microbiota‐dependent metabolite trimethylamine N‐oxide (TMAO) and its precursors are closely linked with development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, independently of traditional risk factors. We aimed to assess whether TMAO and its precursors are altered in PCOS and to determine potential impact of treatment on these metabolites. Design Prospective study. Patients Twenty‐seven overweight/obese patients with PCOS and 25 age‐ and BMI‐matched healthy control women. Measurements At baseline, fasting serum TMAO and its precursors were measured after a 3‐day standardized diet. Patients received 3‐month OC therapy along with general dietary advice after which all measurements were repeated. Results Patients had higher total testosterone (T) and free androgen index (FAI) whereas whole‐body fat mass, fasting plasma glucose, insulin and lipids were similar between the groups. PCOS group showed significantly higher serum levels of TMAO and its precursors; choline, betaine and carnitine. TMAO and choline showed correlations with T. After 3 months of OC use, TMAO and its precursors significantly decreased along with reductions in BMI, T and FAI. Conclusions This study reports for the first time that TMAO and its precursors are elevated in PCOS which might contribute to increased cardiometabolic risk of the syndrome and that short‐term OC use along with lifestyle intervention is associated with reduction of these microbiome‐dependent metabolites.