Correlation between resistin and follistatin in obese adolescents

BACKGROUND: Obesity has a significant impact on female fertility due to functional changes to the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary (HPO) axis. Obesity is often associated with higher circulating insulin levels which will then increase ovarian androgen production. These changes will eventually result in ovulatory dysfunction and menstrual cycle abnormalities. Serum resistin and follistatin have been associated with increased insulin resistance and in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Increased insulin resistance by elevated serum resistin and follistatin levels is associated with exacerbation of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum resistin and serum follistatin with menstrual disorders and signs of hyperandrogenism in obese adolescents.METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design that compared serum resistin and follistatin levels between obese adolescent girls with and without menstrual disorders group and between obese adolescent girls with and without hyperandrogenism signs.RESULTS: Serum resistin levels in the group of obese adolescents with oligomenorrhea and obese adolescents without oligomenorrhea were not statistically significant (1401.4±855.9 vs. 1117.11±815.7, P=0.163). In addition, there was no significant difference in serum follistatin levels between the groups with and without menstrual cycle disorders (27.8±10.6 vs. 26.6±12.3, P=0.670). The correlation between serum resistin and follistatin levels in obese adolescents was found to be very weakly associated and not statistically significant.CONCLUSIONS: Increased serum resistin and serum follistatin have no correlation to menstrual cycle disorders and hyperandrogen signs in obese adolescents.