The Effect of Weight Loss and Treatment with Metformin on Serum Vaspin Levels in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The 2011 study examined the relationship between serum vaspin levels and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), as well as the impact of weight loss and metformin treatment on these levels in 79 women with PCOS and 50 healthy controls. It was found that women with PCOS had higher vaspin levels than controls, and these levels were correlated with BMI in PCOS patients and waist circumference in controls. Treatment with metformin for normal weight PCOS patients or a low-calorie diet with or without orlistat or sibutramine for overweight/obese PCOS patients over 6 months did not significantly change vaspin levels, despite improvements in other metabolic parameters. The study concluded that while PCOS and obesity are associated with increased vaspin levels, small weight loss or metformin treatment does not significantly alter these levels, suggesting that elevated vaspin may be a compensatory mechanism to maintain insulin sensitivity in PCOS.