Serum leptin levels in polycystic ovary syndrome and its relationship with metabolic and hormonal profile in Pakistani females

The study aimed to investigate the levels of serum leptin in PCOS females and to correlate it with metabolic and hormonal parameters. Sixty-two PCOS and ninety normal cycling (NC) females with matched age and body mass index (BMI) were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Serum leptin, FSH, LH, E2, free testosterone, progesterone, thyroid profile, and FBG levels were measured. The mean leptin levels in PCOS and NC were not significantly different (45.56 ng/mL ± 1.49 vs 41.78 ± 1.31 ng/mL, P>0.05); however, leptin levels showed a strong correlation with BMI in PCOS and NC group (r=0.77, P<0.0001; r=0.82, P<0.0001, resp.). High E2 levels in NC had a significant correlation with leptin whereas FBG correlated with leptin in PCOS (r=0.51, P=0.005). TSH had a substantial correlation (r=0.49, P<0.005; r=0.69, P<0.005) in PCOS and NC, respectively. There was no significant difference found in circulating leptin concentration between PCOS and NC subjects. Leptin levels in PCOS were related with metabolic impairments manifested by disturbance in FBG levels and impairment of reproductive functions in terms of reduced E2 secretion.