THE ASSOCIATION OF ADIPOKINES AND INSULIN RESISTANCE IN WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME By JUDITH ANN CUMMINGS

THE ASSOCIATION OF ADIPOKINES AND INSULIN RESISTANCE IN WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME Thesis under the direction of Gary D. Miller, PhD., Associate Professor of Health and Exercise Science. A metabolic disorder with increasing concern to premenopausal women is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS leads to numerous health-related concerns, including insulin resistance. The cause of insulin resistance in women with PCOS is unknown, but adipokine levels may play a role. PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the relationships between measures of insulin resistance and adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, and visfatin) in women with PCOS. Secondarily this study assessed association between adipokines and markers of obesity in women with PCOS. METHODOLOGY: Plasma concentrations of insulin, leptin, adiponectin, and visfatin were made from a morning fasting venous blood sample in women with PCOS. A 2-hour OGTT was performed and plasma insulin and glucose were assessed at baseline and 60, and 120 minutes of the OGTT. Obesity measurements (body fat, mass, and waist circumference) were also determined during the visit. The two measures of insulin resistance were the area under the curve for insulin (I-AUC) during the OGTT, and HOMA, which was calculated based on fasting insulin and glucose levels. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Linear regression examined associations between adipokines and insulin resistance, and Pearson correlations determined the relationships between adipokines and obesity indices. RESULTS: I-AUC was negatively correlated with adiponectin (r = -.684) and positively correlated with visfatin (r = .775), but not with